EPSOM: City of Troy dominated the Derby on Saturday with trainer Aidan O’Brien saying he had “no doubt” this was the best of all his 10 Epsom classic winners. The 3-1 favorite put a dismal run in the English 2,000 Guineas behind him to seal the Blue Riband, just as O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin had done 12 months ago. City of Troy beat Ambiente Friendly (9-2) by two and three quarter lengths with another O’Brien runner Los Angeles (6-1) over three lengths back in third.
The result was the latest demonstration of O’Brien’s magical ability to produce a horse for the big occasion. Asked if this was the best of all his 10 Derby winners O’Brien told ITV: “I would say no doubt, because he has the cruise, he has the balance, and he quickens and he stays. I don’t think there is any doubt about that.
“Listen, he is just an incredible horse.” City of Troy came in for a lot of criticism after the champion two-year-old in 2023 totally fluffed his lines in the Guineas, trailing in ninth of 11. O’Brien though as he had done last year with Auguste Rodin stuck by his conviction that City of Troy still had all the attributes to add his name to the illustrious roll call of Derby winners.
“Ryan (Moore) gave him an incredible ride,” said O’Brien, before in typically modest fashion reeling off a long list of names of people involved in City of Troy’s preparation. The ‘genius’ of O’Brien When he had caught his breath, he said: “We knew the Guineas went totally.
