- York’s Ebor Festival will host a particularly exciting Juddmonte International event
It all comes down to one question: do you believe in City Of Troy? York’s Ebor Festival, which is dripping with quality and competition, kicks off today with a race to match this incredible course.
The Juddmonte International often proves to be the best flat event of the year and this latest edition has it all.
The Epsom Derby winner and Coral Eclipse haven’t shown up at the Knavesmire since Golden Horn in 2015. And that colt, who would go on to win the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, proved why there’s no such thing as a sure thing in racing.
Golden Horn, the big favorite nine years ago, lost 50-1 to Arabian Queen. Many consider City Of Troy, the superstar Aidan O’Brien considers the best he has trained, as vulnerable.
If faith in City Of Troy was widespread, there might be three or four rivals lining up against him. But this afternoon, he and his pacer Hans Andersen will face 11 challengers.
The City of Troy will compete for a record £1.25m prize at Juddmonte International on Tuesday
The Aidan Moore-trained horse is only the 11th horse in 186 years to win the Derby and Eclipse in the same year
And so it should be, when there is a record prize of £1.25m to be won, but something still nags at you. City Of Troy is only the 11th horse in 186 years to win the Derby and Eclipse in the same year, but he does not have universal support.
Perhaps that will have changed at 4pm this afternoon. Ryan Moore, who just rode his 200th Group One winner at Deauville on Sunday, remains confident that a performance is coming that will leave everyone breathless.
Those closest to the horse expected him to win the Eclipse by 10 lengths but the boggy ground at Sandown, softened by a pre-race downpour, sent his wheels spinning in the straight.
There will be no excuses now. York’s ground will be perfect and in a match that has created legends, including Frankel in 2012, City Of Troy will have the optimum conditions to show they are a cut above the rest.
“He seems to be in good form and everything has gone well for him since Sandown,” O’Brien said. “We always thought York would suit him because he’s a big horse with long strides.”
Still, it won’t stop the rest from knocking him off his rhythm. Francis Henri-Graffard-trained Calandagan was spectacular when running away with the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot; Ambiente Friendly travelled as well as City Of Troy in the Derby.
“It’s going to be a really good race,” said Richard Hills, racing manager at Shadwell Stud, who will have Alfaila and Israr in the line-up. “A great track, the ground is great. It’s going to be fantastic.”
And if City Of Troy does what the people who believe in it expect, it could be something spectacular.
