City Of Troy (3-1 Favourite) left the disappointment of his reappearance in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas well and truly behind him when putting up a sensational performance to win the 245th Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs today.
The son of Justify was a record-extending 10th winner of the premier Classic for his trainer Aidan O’Brien and a fourth for his jockey Ryan Moore.
Racing on inside, City of Troy was settled towards the rear of the 16 runners as his stables Euphoric and Los Angeles made the running.
After the field rounded Tattenham Corner, City Of Troy began to make eye-catching headway and went to the front entering the final quarter mile. The result was not in doubt for that performance as he ran on strongly to repel the challenge of Ambiente Friendly by two and three-quarter lengths with Los Angeles another three and a quarter lengths back in third.
Ryan Moore told ITV Racing: “It was hard to know what would happen today, but I was very sure we still had the best horse before the race.
“Newmarket… it didn’t happen. I can’t pretend that we knew it would happen [today], but we do know that he has a big engine, he showed himself to be a brilliant two-year-old. The Guineas… we got a few things wrong. But it’s great that he could come back today. He’s still a little bit immature, that’s the first time he’s run around a bend, hopefully there’s plenty more to work with.”
Asked what the difference was aboard him today compared to Newmarket, Moore said: “We did a few things wrong at Newmarket, today we rectified it and put it right.”
On the feeling the horse gave when he took the gap up the rail, Moore agreed it was sensational, adding: “He was going to win very easily. With the loose horse in front of him, he was still a bit unsure, and then he galloped out strong. He quickened well and then kind of waited, you have to be delighted with what he has done today.”
The jockey went on to say: “I had to find a little bit of room. The race kind of opened up, loose horse in there, he travelled well into the straight, and he picked up and went to the front very easily and very quickly.
“Then I felt he was still a little bit inexperienced, with the loose horse in front of him he wasn’t quite sure what to do - he was pricking his ears, then he changed his leads near the line and went on again. I’m just delighted that a horse who showed so much as a two-year-old - he was very good at two - and the Guineas, we got a few things wrong on the day and it’s great that Aidan’s got him back and brought him here today. He didn’t lose faith in the horse, stuck to the plan and it has paid off. We believed that if he turned up like we thought he would, he’d be too good for them, and he was.
“I was always happy where I was. It’s never going to be 100% smooth with a field that size, where we were, but I was able to pick a path. He took me there early and easily, and the race was over and he was in control of it a fair way out.
“He’s special - he won the Dewhurst, won a Group Two as early as July, won the Dewhurst, then to come here, and it’s the first time he’s been round a bend, and obviously it’s a big step up in trip. We thought he was the sort of horse, and once again Aidan’s brought him here, he’s turned up and it all worked out great.”
AIDAN O’BRIEN – 101 BETFRED DERBY RUNNERS, 10 WINS
1998-8 Second Empire
1998-10 Saratoga Springs
1998-15 King Of Kings
1999-7 Saffron Walden
2000-10 Aristotle
2001-1 GALILEO
2002-1 HIGH CHAPARRAL
2002-2 Hawk Wing
2002-9 Louisville
2003-2 The Great Gatsby
2003-5 Balestrini
2003-12 Alberto Giacometti
2003-16 Brian Boru
2004-14 Meath
2005-5 Gypsy King
2005-9 Grand Central
2005-10 Oratorio
2005-12 Almighty
2006-3 Dylan Thomas
2006-8 Mountain
2006-12 Septimus
2006-PU Horatio Nelson
2007-2 Eagle Mountain
2007-5 Soldier Of Fortune
2007-8 Yellowstone
2007-9 Acapulco
2007-10 Admiralofthefleet
2007-11 Mahler
2007-12 Anton Chekhov
2007-17 Archipenko
2008-5 Washington Irving
2008-6 Alessandro Volta
2008-11 Frozen Fire
2008-12 King Of Rome
2008-15 Bashkirov
2009-2 Fame And Glory
2009-3 Masterofthehorse
2009-4 Rip Van Winkle
2009-5 Golden Sword
2009-7 Age Of Aquarius
2009-10 Black Bear Island
2010-2 At First Sight
2010-4 Jan Vermeer
2010-5 Midas Touch
2011-2 Treasure Beach
2011-4 Memphis Tennessee
2011-6 Recital
2011-10 Seville
2012-1 CAMELOT
2012-3 Astrology
2013-1 RULER OF THE WORLD
2013-4 Battle Of Marengo
2013-6 Mars
2013-8 Flying The Flag
2013-10 Festival Cheer
2014-1 AUSTRALIA
2014-10 Kingfisher
2014-12 Orchestra
2014-16 Geoffrey Chaucer
2015-4 Giovanni Canaletto
2015-6 Kilimanjaro
2015-7 Hans Holbein
2016-2 US Army Ranger
2016-3 Idaho
2016-11 Deauville
2016-14 Port Douglas
2016-15 Shogun
2017-1 WINGS OF EAGLES
2017-2 Cliffs Of Moher
2017-6 Capri
2017-7 Douglas Macarthur
2017-12 Venice Beach
2017-17 The Anvil
2018-4 Saxon Warrior
2018-6 Delano Roosevelt
2018-8 The Pentagon
2018-9 Kew Gardens
2018-12 Zabriskie
2019-1 ANTHONY VAN DYCK
2019-3 Japan
2019-4 Broome
2019-5 Sir Dragonet
2019-6 Circus Maximus
2019-8 Norway
2019-10 Sovereign
2020-1 SERPENTINE
2020-3 Amhran Na Bhfiann
2020-6 Mogul
2020-7 Russian Emperor
2020-8 Vatican City
2020-13 Mythical
2021-7 Bolshoi Ballet
2022-5 Changingoftheguard
2022-6 Stone Age
2022-13 Star Of India
2023-1 AUGUSTE RODIN
2023-8 Adelaide River
2023-11 San Antonio
2024-1 CITY OF TROY
2024-3 Los Angeles
2024-9 Euphoric
RYAN MOORE – 19 BETFRED DERBY RIDES, 4 WINNERS
2005-7 Unfurled
2006-6 Best Alibi
2008-2 Tartan Bearer
2009-10 Black Bear Island
2010-1 WORKFORCE
2011-3 Carlton House
2012-3 Astrology
2013-1 RULER OF THE WORLD
2014-16 Geoffrey Chaucer
2015-4 Giovanni Canaletto
2016-2 US Army Ranger
2017-2 Cliffs Of Moher
2018-4 Saxon Warrior
2019-5 Sir Dragonet
2020-6 Mogul
2021-7 Bolshoi Ballet
2022-6 Stone Age
2023-1 AUGUSTE RODIN
2024-1 CITY OF TROY
COOLMORE PARTNERSHIP – SUE MAGNIER COLOURS – 38 BETFRED DERBY RUNNERS, 6 WINNERS
1996-9 Chief Contender
1998-15 King Of Kings
1999-7 Saffron Walden
2000-10 Aristotle
2001-1 GALILEO
2002-2 Hawk Wing
2002-9 Louisville
2003-2 The Great Gatsby
2003-12 Alberto Giacometti
2003-16 Brian Boru
2004-14 Meath
2005-5 Gypsy King
2005-9 Grand Central
2005-10 Oratorio
2005-12 Almighty
2006-3 Dylan Thomas
2006-10 Papal Bull
2006-PU Horatio Nelson
2007-5 Soldier Of Fortune
2007-11 Mahler
2009-4 Rip Van Winkle
2009-7 Age Of Aquarius
2009-10 Black Bear Island
2010-5 Midas Touch
2011-1 POUR MOI
2011-4 Memphis Tennessee
2011-6 Recital
2013-1 RULER OF THE WORLD
2013-8 Flying The Flag
2014-12 Orchestra
2014-16 Geoffrey Chaucer
2016-2 US Army Ranger
2017-2 Cliffs Of Moher
2019-1 ANTHONY VAN DYCK
2019-5 Sir Dragonet
2019-10 Sovereign
2020-1 SERPENTINE
2020-8 Vatican City
2020-13 Mythical
2020-7 Bolshoi Ballet
2023-8 Adelaide River
2024-1 CITY OF TROY
Coolmore partnerships have also won the Betfred Derby with Camelot (2012), Australia (2014) and Wings Of Eagles (2017) in Derrick Smith’s colours plus High Chaparral (2002) and Auguste Rodin (2023) in Michael Tabor’s colours.
City Of Troy is the 24th Irish-trained Betfred Derby winner.
