It was inevitable that someone would drop the F-word after City Of Troy’s devastating success in the Dewhurst Stakes on Saturday, but quite the surprise that it was Michael Tabor, City Of Troy’s co-owner in the Coolmore syndicate, who got there first. “He really is our Frankel,” Tabor said after the colt’s three-and-a-half length win, effectively ensuring that similar comparisons will be drawn whenever City Of Troy sees a racecourse or, at the very least, for as long as he remains unbeaten.
It is a significant weight of expectation to hang around the neck of a colt with just three runs in the book, and the chance that City Of Troy will even approach the level of Frankel’s best form, never mind the ease and consistency with which he turned out one monstrous performance after another, remains slim.
But it is an unfair comparison too, because Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile is, and will remain, the one and only City Of Troy, and at this stage of his career, the possibilities are still endless. When a horse’s talent, attitude and action clearly sets it at a different level to even the very best of its peers, the question of whether or not it might one day be “as good” as a different horse that raced a decade or more ago should really be the least interesting thing about it.
City Of Troy’s horizons, in fact, are even broader than Frankel’s at the same stage of his career, not least thanks to his unusual breeding, with a US Triple Crown winner, Justify, as his sire and a Group One-winning mare by Galileo as his dam.
As a result, he is bred to win both the Kentucky Derby on dirt in early May and the original Classic at Epsom a few weeks later, and since City Of Troy’s earnings as a stallion of the future must be a major consideration, it is arguable which race would be most appealing to “the lads” at Coolmore.
At the very least, the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November 2024 will surely be in the conversation when plans are laid for City Of Troy’s three-year-old career. Then again, there were also 10-1 quotes for the English Triple Crown flying around after the Dewhurst, so the chance to finally scratch that longstanding itch could also feature strongly in the discussions.
Redcar 1.35 Mereside Diva 2.10 Burj Malinka 2.45 Eye Of Dubai 3.20 Woobay 3.55 Molten Rock 4.30 Gentle Ellen 5.05 Run Zarak Run 5.38 Foursome
Uttoxeter 1.40 Goodwin 2.15 Toonagh Warrior 2.50 Ballydisco 3.25 Bear Ghylls 4.00 Lelant 4.35 Chase Park
Fakenham 2.33 Doc McCoy 3.08 Wise Guy 3.43 Gone In Sixty 4.18 My Gift To You 4.53 Arizona Cardinal 5.25 Chaos Control
Newcastle 4.25 Al Tarfa (nb) 5.00 Artisan Dancer 5.30 Elegant Madame 6.00 Torvar 6.30 Elliott 7.00 Moon Flight 7.30 Novak (nap) 8.00 Showtime Mahomes 8.30 Noteable
The possibilities, in other words, are almost endless, and all manner of routes through 2024 could eventually see City Of Troy bow out with a unique career record, regardless of the number that is eventually attached to his name by the international handicapping panel. That alone should be more than enough to satisfy Flat racing’s fans as winter draws on.
Going … going … chances gone?
The run-up to Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday would not feel complete without speculation about the weather and the likelihood of testing ground, and the going will again be a major point of interest – and concern – before the six-race card this weekend.
Mostahdaf, the International Stakes winner and a leading contender for the Champion Stakes, is one of the big names who would not want it soft, and the ground could also play a part in deciding whether Paddington, the winner of four Group Ones already this season, lines up for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, over a mile, or the Champion over a mile-and-a-quarter.
The decisions about which horse runs where could also have knock-on effects on the race for the trainer’s championship, with Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington due to meet John and Thady Gosden’s pair of Nashwa and Inspiral if he runs in the QEII. The Gosdens, whose other possible runners on Saturday include Mostahdaf and the Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes favourite, Free Wind, are currently about £300,000 in front, but still no shorter than 4-6 with Paddy Power to reclaim the title from Charlie Appleby.
Important reminder
And finally … a reminder that punters have just 48 hours left to respond to the Gambling Commission’s public consultation on the introduction of “affordability” checks for betting, and the proposed thresholds and net losses at which the checks could be triggered. The form is here, the relevant section starts at Q68, and the chance to air your thoughts will end at midnight on Wednesday.
