City Of Troy returned to form in brilliant style, banishing memories of his QIPCO 2000 Guineas flop, to win the Betfred Derby (G1) at Epsom On June 1.
It was a case of deja vu for winning combination Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien as the son of Justify provided them with a fourth and tenth win respectively in the Premier Classic.
The start saw drama as Voyage unseated Pat Dobbs when leaving the stalls and proceeded to run loose alongside the early leader, Euphoric.
As the field rounded Tattenham corner Euphoric began to drop back, leaving stablemate Los Angeles to take up the running as they entered the straight.
Lingfield Derby winner Ambiente Friendly travelled supremely into contention down the centre of the track, while City Of Troy mirrored his move up on the far rail. At the furlong pole, City Of Troy began to assert, eventually powering clear to win convincingly.
Speaking to ITV immediately after the race Moore commented: “It was hard to know what would happen today, but I was very sure we had the best horse. At Newmarket it didn’t happen and we can’t pretend we knew it would happen, but we do know he has a big engine.
“In the Guineas, we got a few things wrong, but it’s great that he could come back today. He was still a little bit immature, it’s the first time he’s run around a bend and hopefully there’s plenty more to work on.
“It was sensational. He was going to win very easily and then with the loose horse in front of him, he was still a bit unsure, but he galloped out strong. He quickened well and kind of waited so you’d have to be delighted with what happened today.”
PEDIGREE NOTES from CT
City of Troy is the first Epsom Derby winner sired by the great American stallion JUSTIFY. City of Troy’s dam, TOGETHER FOREVER, by Galileo (Ire) won the Group 1 Fillies Mile as a two-year-old in 2014. Her first four named foals include $319,000 earner Bertinelli, a full brother. The mare has a two-year-old filly by Uncle Mo this year.
Together Forever’s full sister FOREVER TOGETHER won the 2018 Epsom Oaks (G1) and a half-brother, LORD SHANAKILL, won the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat among other group stakes.
HE IS BACK 🤩
City of Troy silences his doubters with an incredible win in the Betfred Derby!
What a star 🌟
pic.twitter.com/KGTO7CFvRv— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 1, 2024
Sunday, June 2, 2024, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise)
Previously unbeaten in two outings, with only one run this year due to a setback, Look de Vega (Lope de Vega) dominated a particularly competitive 184th edition of the €1.5m Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1), run over 10.5f. Bred by Haras de la Morsanglière of Joëlle Mestrallet and Écurie des Charmes of Lucien Urano, also his owners in association with trainers Carlos and Yann Lerner and Patrick Madar, the colt won by two lengths over First Look (Lope de Vega), who finished a length ahead of third-placed Sosie (Sea the Stars).
The winner raced in the second tier, trailing the leaders, including the favourite Fast Tracker (Churchill) and Ramadan (Le Havre), who failed to stay the distance. Pulled out at the crucial moment by Ronan Thomas, Look de Vega accelerated sharply to keep finishers First Look, on the outside, and Sosie, on the rail, at bay. The British raider Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) secured fourth place after struggling to get off the rail, with Mondo Man (Mondialiste) finishing strongly down the centre of the course to take fifth place.
Purchased for €160,000 privately at the Deauville sales by his trainers, Look de Vega debuted with a victory over one mile at Fontainebleau in November, winning by seven lengths. Entered in February for this Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, he returned to competition on May 5 at ParisLongchamp, winning the 1m2f Prix de Croissy by over three lengths. Thus, he remained unbeaten and presented himself here with the inside draw of 3.
His half-brother by Almanzor was sold last October at Deauville to Marc Pimbonnet for €24,000. He is now training with his buyer under the colours of Bernard Giraudon and Jean-Paul Chuzeville.
The dam, Lucelle (High Chaparral), bred by the late Lady O’Reilly, also raced under the colours of Haras de la Morsanglière and was trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. She won at three years old at La Teste, Dax, and Fontainebleau, eventually finishing fifth in the Prix Panacée (L) over 1m4f at Toulouse. She had been sold for €85,000 as a yearling to Meridian International (Ghislain Bozo) at Deauville.
Look de Vega’s sire, Lope de Vega, who also sired the second-place finisher, won the Prix du Jockey Club himself, just like Lawman, whose dam is the third dam of Look de Vega and whose sister Latice also won the Prix de Diane over this course.
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