Photo:

Andrew Parker / Eclipse Sportswire

European champion 2-year-old and also a top contender for European champion 3-year-old this year, City of Troy will retire to Coolmore’s base in Fethard following his final start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has always been in awe of the son of Justify. “He’s definitely the best we’ve ever trained, no doubt about it,” said O’Brien. “Everything he’s done from the start has suggested that. He’s the most amazing horse with a fantastic temperament and an incredible stride. He just never seems to tire and is really only getting going at the end of his races so Ryan has often had a job to pull him up. We still don’t really know how much more there is under the bonnet. I think he’ll make into an unbelievable stallion.”

City of Troy went unbeaten in his 2-year-old season with three striking performances including a 6 1/2-length rout in the Superlative Stakes (G2) on Newmarket’s July course and another deeply impressive display in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1). Three more successes at the highest level have followed this season in the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the Juddmonte International.

“As a yearling he was rated the nicest Justify we have bred and even before he won his maiden at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend, Aidan was enthusing about him like no other before,” said Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. “It’s seriously exciting to watch him in his work and in his races. He also seems to have really caught the imagination of the racing public which is great for the sport. The team in America were very keen for him to stand alongside his sire Justify at Ashford but the home team have won the day and we’re delighted to be able to offer such a unique talent to our European clients. He’s the perfect blend of Justify and Galileo; a remarkable horse who seems to be getting better and better as his last run at York, where he lowered Sea The Stars’ track record, was undoubtedly his best performance.”

City of Troy boasts a pedigree to match his looks and race record being by Justify out of Galileo’s 2-year-old Fillies’ Mile (G1) winner Together Forever, herself a sister to Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Forever Together. A fee for City of Troy will be announced at a later date.