It’s the big one as York gears up for a Troy story
IT all boils down to one question: do you believe in City Of Troy? York’s Ebor Festival, dripping with quality and competition, begins today with a race that befitting this outstanding course.
The Juddmonte International often proves to be the year’s finest Flat event and this latest renewal has it all.
Not since Golden Horn in 2015 has the winner of the Epsom Derby and Coral Eclipse turned up on the Knavesmire and that colt, who would go on to win the Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, proved why there is no such thing as a certainty in racing.
Golden Horn, an odds-on favourite nine years ago, was beaten by 50-1 shot Arabian Queen and many consider City Of Troy, the superstar whom Aidan O’Brien regards to be the best he’s trained, to be vulnerable.
If belief in City Of Troy was widespread, perhaps three or four rivals would be taking him on. But this afternoon he and his pacemaker Hans Andersen must see off 11 challengers.
This is how it should be, when a record prize of £1.25million is up for grabs, but something still jars.
City Of Troy is just the 11th horse in 186 years to win the Derby and Eclipse in the same year but he doesn’t have universal support.
Perhaps that will have changed come 4pm this afternoon. Ryan Moore, fresh from riding his 200th Group One winner, in Deauville on Sunday, remains convinced a performance is coming that will leave everyone breathless.
Those closest to the horse expected to him to win the Eclipse by 10 lengths but the squashy ground at Sandown, softened by a pre-race deluge, left his wheels spinning up the straight.
There will be no such excuses now. York’s ground will be perfect and in a contest that has made legends, chief among them Frankel in 2012, City Of Troy has the optimum conditions to show he is a cut above the rest.
‘He seems to be in good form and everything has gone well with him since Sandown,’ said O’Brien. ‘We always thought York would suit him as he’s a big, long-striding horse.’
Still, it won’t stop the rest from trying to knock him out of his rhythm. Calandagan, trained by Francis Henri-Graffard, was spectacular when careering away with King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot; Ambiente Friendly travelled just as well as City Of Troy in the Derby.
‘It’s brewing up to be a really good race,’ said Richard Hills, racing manager to Shadwell Stud, who will have Alfaila and Israr in the line-up. ‘A great track, the ground’s beautiful. It’s going to be fantastic.’
And if City Of Troy does what those who believe in him expect, it could be spectacular.