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O’Brien ‘delighted’ with City Of Troy’s emphatic debut success

3 minute read

The Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore brigade are virtually impossible to stop at present and the pair once again teamed up to land the opening contest of Irish Derby weekend.

NEVER ENDING STORY won for trainer AIdan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.
NEVER ENDING STORY won for trainer AIdan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

City Of Troy left watchers purring as the striking son of Justify quickened up in breathtaking fashion for a comfortable debut success.

The well-bred Justify colt is out of a Group 1-winning Coolmore mare and looked like a juvenile of considerable promise when justifying 6/4 favouritism with a taking success in the seven-furlong Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden.

He was always well-positioned under Ryan Moore and showed a smart turn of foot to come clear for a ready two-and-a-half-length victory in the manner of a very promising induvial.

The victory saw him introduced at 16/1 for next season's 2000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile by traders Paddy Power.

O'Brien said: "Ryan was delighted with him. He said he was very frightened going past the winning post – he said it's the first time he's ever rode a two-year-old that he thought wasn't going to pull up.

"He said going to the winning post he just started to get longer and longer in his stride and galloped down to the boards. He gave him a lovely ride.

"He has a big, long stride and he's relentless really. I'm delighted with him.

"He has great presence. We had his brother last year, Bertinelli, and he was a very big horse who we thought was going to be a three- or four-year-old, but this horse is made like a two- or three-year-old.

"He's a medium-sized horse with a giant stride. He's very unusual, his stride is kind of twice the length of his body. When he started to extend inside the furlong marker, his stride is getting longer and longer – that's very rare.

"That's what Justify had as well, his stride was so long, and it made him very different. That's what they (his progeny) have as well and that's why the big ones take a bit of time.

"They are very good movers and Justify had speed as well as stamina. He's matching great with the European mares."

He added: "Ryan said you can go anywhere you want with him and go as far as you want.

"Obviously we have other horses to consider, but he'll go into one of those seven-furlong races next and it depends on how far the lads want to go with him, whether they want to go up to a mile with him this year or not.


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