City Of Troy made to work hard for Coral-Eclipse victory
City Of Troy (Justify) became just the 11th horse in history to follow up a win in the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) with success in that season’s Coral-Eclipse (Gr 1, 1m 2f) when landing Saturday’s Sandown feature – although it wasn’t the saunter up the straight many were expecting.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt joined the likes of Mill Reef (Never Bend), Nashwan (Blushing Groom), Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) and most recently Golden Horn (Cape Cross) in 2015 in completing the illustrious double, however he was made to work hard as he took his record to five wins in six starts.
Settled prominently behind his front-running stablemate Hans Andersen (Frankel) by Ryan Moore, the red-hot 1-4 favourite moved to the lead down the centre of the track before hanging across to the far rail, eventually beating Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) by a length with Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) the same distance further away in third.
“The ground was slower than he wants and I got it wrong,” said Moore. “I took him up the middle and he wanted to go to the fence. I just think on this ground, the way I rode him was a little bit wrong but he still got the job done.
“Halfway round the bend he just took a bit of a step with me and he lost a bit of momentum. It took me two and a half furlongs to get him balanced and he was away from the fence and he just wasn’t comfortable. I would say he wants nicer ground really.”
Bred in the purple by Orpendale, Chelston and Wynatt, City Of Troy (3 c Justify – Together Forever by Galileo) is out of Fillies’ Mile (Gr 1, 1m) winner Together Forever (Galileo), making him a brother to Unbelievable, who has been placed in Group 3 company in Hong Kong, while he is also a half-brother to Group 3 scorer Military Style (War Front) and stakes-placed War Front (Danzig) duo Absolute Ruler and King Of Athens.
Together Forever is a sister to Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Forever Together, while she is also a half-sister to French Group 1 winner Lord Shanakill (Speightstown).
Being out of a daughter of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), City Of Troy is one of five stakes winners bred on that cross.