City Of Troy, arguably the most talked-about horse in training, will retire to Coolmore Stud in Ireland after his date with destiny in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 2.
The highest-rated son of Justify, City Of Troy produced one of the most impressive Derby-winning performances in recent times and followed up on his Epsom heroics with victory in the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International.
Aidan O'Brien's star will not race beyond his three-year-old campaign and, in a statement issued by Coolmore on Saturday, the trainer commented, “He's definitely the best we've ever trained, no doubt about it.”
O'Brien added, “Everything he's done from the start has suggested that. He's the most amazing horse with a fantastic temperament and an incredible stride. He just never seems to tire and is really only getting going at the end of his races so Ryan has often had a job to pull him up. We still don't really know how much more there is under the bonnet. I think he'll make into an unbelievable stallion.”
City Of Troy showed precocity as a juvenile where his unbeaten campaign culminated with victory in the Dewhurst Stakes and he was later crowned European Champion Two-Year-Old. His only defeat came on his seasonal return in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket this year, however, the Breeders' Cup Classic has been spoken about as his ultimate aim for the majority of the season.
His audacious attempt to bridge a 16-year gap to the last European-trained winner of the Classic [Raven's Pass] has capatured the public's immagination. That was evidenced when hundreds of people turned out to a non-raceday excercise gallop in which City Of Troy oozed class when breezing clear of his Ballydoyle-trained stablemates under Ryan Moore.
MV Magnier said on the decision to stand City Of Troy in Ireland next year, “As a yearling he was rated the nicest Justify we have bred and even before he won his maiden at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend, Aidan was enthusing about him like no other before.”
He added, “It's seriously exciting to watch him in his work and in his races. He also seems to have really caught the imagination of the racing public which is great for the sport. The team in America were very keen for him to stand alongside his sire Justify at Ashford but the home team have won the day and we're delighted to be able to offer such a unique talent to our European clients. He's the perfect blend of Justify and Galileo; a remarkable horse who seems to be getting better and better as his last run at York — where he lowered Sea The Stars' track record — was undoubtedly his best performance.”
City Of Troy is the ante-post favourite at odds of 9-4 for the Breeders' Cup Classic. His fee will be announced at a later date.
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