Juddmonte International Stakes
Group 1, York 15:35
£1,250,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
1m 2f 56y, Class 1   
Wednesday 21st August 2024

Boylesports

1 City Of Troy 5/4F
2 Calandagan 13/2
3 Ghostwriter 33/1
13 ran Distances: 1l, 3½l, 3¾l
Time: 2m 4.32s (fast by 3.88s)

City Of Troy solidified his superstar status with a dazzling front-running performance.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Justify, who had conquered all at two, overcame his 2000 Guineas disappointment with redemptive victories in the Derby at Epsom and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Despite some skepticism following his Esher performance, an all-star lineup gathered to challenge him in the Ebor Festival’s opening-day highlight.

Under Ryan Moore, City Of Troy jumped out alertly, leveraging his Classic-winning stamina. Royal Rhyme, stablemate Hans Andersen, and Ghostwriter followed closely, with Japanese contender Durezza also in the mix.

As the field turned into the straight, the Aga Khan’s Calandagan emerged from the pack to challenge, continuing Francis-Henri Graffard’s successful season.

However, despite a strong effort, Calandagan couldn’t catch City Of Troy, who broke the course record. City Of Troy finished a length ahead of Calandagan, with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter taking third, silencing any remaining doubters as the 5-4 favourite.

Being by American Triple Crown winner Justify, the dream of a Breeders’ Cup Classic bid is very much alive.

O’Brien said: “The lads can do whatever they want but we always dreamed he would be a Classic horse. That’s what we always dreamed.

“It wasn’t the plan today (to make the running) but he hit the gates and Ryan just decided he was going along.

“What happened in the Guineas, we went away from that (making the running) because he frightened us. As a two-year-old, he was very quick early and he would dominate and keep going, which is what he did today but Ryan gave him a brilliant ride, he controlled it brilliantly and finished off very strong.

“I think we’ll see the best of him when he bounces out very strong and is left to roll, he gets into a massive tempo and keeps going.

“People will measure his stride but the length of it in the last two furlongs is incredible really. That’s what he was like at two, he just keeps going and Ryan said he went through the line very strong.”

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While there is still a remote possibility of City Of Troy running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – something Moore is keen on – America seems favourite at this stage.

“I know Ryan would love to do the Arc and anything is possible, but the lads will decide where they want to go. You need a very special horse for the Arc and that is what Ryan always thought he was, but it will be discussed,” said O’Brien.

“Everything he did from the day we trained him, he was just the best. The first day we ran him this year, it was like he got covered in a swamp, so we didn’t know where we were. We had to re-do everything to get him back doing things right.

“Today it came back out what we were trying to contain at two and do everything to make sure it didn’t happen again, today it just came naturally back out.

“Ryan contained him as long as he could in front, he didn’t want to over-race and it was only going to the two marker that he really piled it on, but that’s what he used to do at two.

“We wanted to keep him sharp, as we had the Classic in our mind, we didn’t want a slog anywhere. The last day didn’t go right, the ground was soft and the pace was slow, but he still won. That’s what we were hoping, beautiful ground and a flat track.

“It’s incredible the condition of the track, when we walked it, it didn’t feel good to firm, they’ve done an incredible job with the cover of grass.”

One of the Coolmore triumvirate, Michael Tabor, will be part of the decision-making process and he was in no doubt City Of Troy is the best they have had.

He said: “That was better than anything, and I mean anything!

“He never looked like getting beaten and there’s much more in the tank. He’s a special horse, as Aidan has always said.”

SureWIn

Juddmonte International Stakes
(Group 1) (British Champions Series)
£1,250,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5)    City Of Troy 3 9-1 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 5/4F
2 (7) 1 Calandagan 3 9-1 F-H Graffard Stephane Pasquier 13/2
3 (13) 3½ Ghostwriter 3 9-1 Clive Cox Richard Kingscote 33/1
4 (4) 3¾ Bluestocking 4 9-5 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 5/1
5 (6) 2¼ Durezza 4 9-8 Tomohito Ozeki Christophe-Patrice Lemaire 28/1
6 (10) hd Royal Rhyme 4 9-8 K R Burke Clifford Lee 80/1
7 (12) ¾ Docklands 4 9-8 Harry Eustace Hayley Turner 66/1
8 (8) ½ Maljoom 5 9-8 William Haggas Tom Marquand 28/1
9 (1) 1½ Israr 5 9-8 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 16/1
10 (2) 4¼ Ambiente Friendly 3 9-1 James Fanshawe Robert Havlin 13/2
11 (9) 4 Zarakem 4 9-8 J Reynier Maxime Guyon 28/1
12 (11) 2 Alflaila 5 9-8 Owen Burrows Jim Crowley 14/1
13 (3) 5 Hans Andersen 4 9-8 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 250/1

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