City Of Troy (3-1 favourite) bounced back from his QIPCO 2,000 Guineas disappointment to land a first Classic success in superb style in the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday afternoon. Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile star of last season was a huge disappointment when bombing out despite being sent off the warm favourite in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month. Talk of being a Triple Crown winner fell flat at Headquarters.
But it was a repeat of stable-mate Auguste Rodin 12 months ago, who similarly grabbed Derby joy after Guineas pain. This time the son of Justify also showed that was merely a blip and he resumed winning ways in brilliant fashion stepped up to 1m4f for the first time. He landed Flat racing’s blue riband, under Ryan Moore to give his master trainer a record-extending perfect 10th victory in the Derby.
Although surprisingly it was a first Classic of the season for O'Brien. After an unbeaten juvenile campaign the son of the 13th American Triple Crown winner Justify was being talked of as being the stable’s ‘Frankel’ and hopes of the Holy Grail for his Coolmore owners of winning British Triple Crown were high. Breathtaking wins in the seven-furlong Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting and in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Headquarters saw City Of Troy being lauded as a potential superstar.
And despite being ninth of the 11 runners in the first Classic of this season, City Of Troy lived up to those high expectations under a fine.
