By Sean Cronin
Coolmore's G1 Derby and G1 Eclipse hero City Of Troy (Justify) is set to face one dozen rivals from stall five in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International after 13 were declared for the £1.25-million feature on the opening day of York's Ebor Festival. Trainer Aidan O'Brien will also be represented by Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) after trimming weekend winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and G1 Irish Derby victor Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) from his overnight team of four.
The home defence is headed by G1 Derby runner-up and G1 Irish Derby third Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), drawn in stall two, and the race sponsor's G1 Pretty Polly Stakes victrix and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), who has been allocated stall four.
France has not won the extended 10-furlong contest since the iconic Triptych (Riverman) prevailed in 1987 and is represented this year by wide-margin G2 King Edward VII Stakes victor Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes runner-up Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr). They have drawn stalls seven and nine, respectively.
Carrot Farm's Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), successful in last year's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) and drawn alongside City Of Troy in stall six, will bid to go one better than compatriot Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), who was a neck shy of glory when second in 2005.
Black-type action on the Knavesmire will be set in motion by the G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs, with recent winners of the juvenile contest including Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). This year's renewal will witness a clash of 'TDN Rising Stars' as both Ruling Court (Justify) and The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) feature in the 11-runner line-up.
The aforementioned Juddmonte International absentee Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is one of three nominees for Aidan O'Brien, who accounts for half of the six-runner field, in the G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes. He is joined by G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and likely pacemaker Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Ballydoyle trio is opposed by G1 Derby fourth Deira Mile (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), G3 Hampton Court Stakes and G2 York Stakes runner-up King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Wathnan Racing's G2 King Edward VII Stakes runner-up Space Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
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