York can be the ideal assignment for City Of Troy to reach superstardom Juddmonte International the perfect fit for sport's most exciting three-year-old Eclipse win was workmanlike but conditions were firmly against City Of Troy O'Brien has plethora of options in the Group One middle-distance division By Calum Mcclurkin Published: 07:30, 14 July 2024 | Updated: 07:30, 14 July 2024 e-mail View comments The next chapter of the Troy story could be the best part yet. Aidan O’Brien’s outstanding three-year-old was workmanlike in winning last week’s Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in uninspiring fashion but overcame far from ideal conditions to grind out victory. City Of Troy won the Derby in good style and his powerful all-conquering connections insists he’s still one of the best they’ve ever had.

It’s easy to see why team Ballydoyle haven’t lost the faith. City Of Troy proved he can prevail in a scrap when slightly off the boil at Sandown. Ryan Moore cursed his decision to race on the dead ground up the middle of the track but he managed to repel all challengers to prevail.

Although the manner of the victory was unconvincing and the margin relatively narrow, runner-up Al Riffa never looked like passing City Of Troy at any point, who pulled further clear if anything near the line. His relaxed attitude is mightily impressive and he probably minded himself on ground that was deemed slower than ideal. It was an awkward, trappy little race that didn’t enhance City Of Troy’.