York can be the ideal assignment for City Of Troy to reach superstardom

The next chapter in the Troy story could be the best one yet. Aidan O’Brien’s excellent three-year-old was workmanlike in winning last week’s Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in uninspiring fashion, but overcame less than ideal conditions to claim victory.

City Of Troy won the Derby in style and his powerful, all-conquering connections insist he is still one of the best they have ever had. It is easy to see why Team Ballydoyle have not lost faith. City Of Troy proved he can prevail in a fight when he was slightly off the boil at Sandown. Ryan Moore cursed his decision to race on the dead ground in the middle of the track but he held off all challengers to prevail.

Although the manner of his victory was unconvincing and the margin relatively small, runner-up Al Riffa never looked likely to get past City Of Troy, who came further away, if he got anywhere near the finish. His relaxed demeanour is hugely impressive and he would probably have done his best on terrain that was considered slower than ideal.

It was an awkward, tricky little race that neither enhanced nor diminished City Of Troy’s lofty reputation. Everyone wants great horses to deliver a performance to match, but that can’t always be the case. Sometimes champions in top-level sport aren’t at their best, but what they can do is win, no matter what’s against them. And that’s what City Of Troy achieved.

The opposition was weak by Group 1 standards, but the ground, track, tactics and possibly even the journey did not favour City Of Troy at Sandown. But the future looks bright and there are plenty of attractive targets for the most exciting horse in training. The Juddmonte International at York was where the Paddington bubble burst last season, but it could be the place where City Of Troy can really announce himself as a superstar.

Fast ground on a big, flat and open gallop over ten furlongs should show City Of Troy in his best light. He could do something similar to what Baaeed did in the 2022 renewal – a hissing performance that has been unmatched since. He will need the rain to be at his best, but he can cope on soft ground and the Group 1 at the end of August could be the springboard to a successful late-season campaign. He could theoretically move from York to the Irish Champion Stakes in mid-September and then head to America for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt.

The opposition elsewhere looks relatively thin and O’Brien has similar options in the middle distance division. Auguste Rodin won last year’s Derby and the 2024 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. A mile and a half seems more suitable than a mile and a quarter, but Auguste Rodin really needs a strong gallop and fast ground to be at his best. Anything else and it means danger. City Of Troy is arguably similar, but he has the ability to scrape to victory on soft ground and is tactically versatile.

Luxembourg won the Coronation Cup this season and can plunder the odd Group One. He is too good to be a pacer and can do it between 10 and 12 furlongs. Los Angeles was third in this year’s Derby but won the Irish equivalent. Moore insists he is too classy for the St Leger, so could he be the one to run races like the Arc in France? There is plenty of riches for O’Brien to enjoy over the middle distances, but make no mistake, City Of Troy is the ace in the pack. And York could be where he really comes into his own.

Racing unites in show of support for Hunt

Such a despicable act is still incomprehensible, but the way the racing world has rallied around commentator John Hunt and his family is a ray of light in these dark times.

Hunt’s wife and two daughters were brutally murdered in their home on Tuesday and when the news broke the next day, I held my breath. In the fast pace of modern society and a digital age where people are increasingly bewildered by horrific events and hardships around the world, it is vital to pause, process the news and put it all into perspective.

This unspeakable tragedy was one of those terrible moments that made everything else seem so utterly insignificant. Hunt is a master of his craft at several broadcasters and has excelled in several forms of media. Widely respected by his peers, the shock was still palpable on Thursday as the July meeting began. ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles delivered a perfect message of support at a time when words seem utterly inadequate. Even now, he is never far from everyone’s thoughts.

Hunt and daughter Amy released a statement Saturday saying, “The devastation we are experiencing is beyond words.

‘We would like to thank the people for their kind messages and for the support we have received over the past few days. These have given us a lot of comfort, for which we are very grateful.

‘As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for us, and we need time and space to process what has happened and begin the grieving process. While this is happening, we would ask that our privacy and that of our wider family and associates is respected at this time. Thank you.’

Racing can be guilty of being too introverted and stuck in its own bubble, but in times of grief its close-knit community can pull together and be incredibly supportive. That is what we all need to do now and it is heartening to hear that it has brought Hunt some comfort during this terrible time.

Performance of the week…

WHISTLE JACKET Slightly disappointed at Royal Ascot when beaten favourite in the Norfolk Stakes, a step up in distance and softer ground helped him win the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday. He strayed when leading but was already in charge. There should be much more to come from this striking youngster who is very relaxed and physically impressive.

Selection of the day…

ARABIA (11-4, bet365) won in Group Three company over course and distance and can therefore take a step up in class in his attack in the Prix Robert Papin (Chantilly, 3.30) for trainer Karl Burke.