City Of Troy's victory in the Derby at Epsom on Saturday has placed his career at a compelling crossroads, with connections weighing up whether to target the Travers Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic or stick to more traditional European races. The colt, trained by Aidan O'Brien, now has a form line of 111-01 after his smooth success, but the zero from his 2,000 Guineas defeat last month could prove as significant as any of his wins.
Had City Of Troy not become upset in the stalls before the Guineas, he might have remained unbeaten and been aimed at the St Leger in September to attempt the Triple Crown. However, that scenario is now off the table, and the possibilities for the Derby winner are equally compelling. O'Brien has described City Of Troy as the best of his 10 Derby winners, a double-win for the Coolmore Stud syndicate that owns him, as he represents a valuable stallion prospect for the future.
The path mapped out for City Of Troy will be influenced by his sire Justify, who is already proving to be a dual-purpose stallion capable of siring high-class winners on dirt and turf. A win in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August, potentially against Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, would be a huge payoff, while the Breeders' Cup Classic remains unfinished business for Ballydoyle and Coolmore since Giant's Causeway's narrow defeat in 2000.
City Of Troy is now around 8-1 to become the first horse to win both the Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic, an achievement that would surpass even a Triple Crown. However, the decision carries risk, and more traditional targets include the Irish Derby, the Eclipse, the International Stakes at York, and the Irish Champion Stakes.
The Derby attendance of around 27,000 was down 25% on the 2022 figure of 37,274, though the Jockey Club Racecourses cited factors such as the cost of living crisis and competition from the FA Cup final. Despite the drop, City Of Troy's victory was one of the more memorable in recent years, and his future could prove significant for the sport.
