City of Troy Celebrates Global Recognition: Unveiling the Award That Validates Its Early Promise

Coolmore’s City of Troy created quite a buzz when he joined Aidan O’Brien’s training stable as one of the most promising 2-year-olds ever. This Kentucky-bred colt, sired by Justify, truly lived up to the hype.

Even with the pressure of transforming from an undefeated champion 2-year-old to a Classic-winning 3-year-old, O’Brien and his team successfully guided City of Troy to the pinnacle of horse racing. On January 21, he shared the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Award with Laurel River, a testament to his outstanding performance.

The highlight of his career came on August 21 at the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) held at York Racecourse. There, he impressed everyone with a remarkable course record, finishing the 2,050 meters (just over 1 1/4 miles) in 2:04.32. He triumphed over notable competitors, including group 2 winner Calandagan, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Bluestocking, and Japanese grade 1 winner Durezza, earning a 128 rating from the Longines committee. This race was recognized as the Longines World’s Best Horse Race in 2024.

“He delivered an incredible performance, probably the best I’ve ever seen on a racecourse,” said Ryan Moore, the colt’s regular jockey. City of Troy’s strategy in this race was different from his previous victories; he charged to the front right from the start. Moore explained that this approach helped set a steady pace, allowing the horse to find his rhythm.

O’Brien echoed Moore’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the Juddmonte International. “It’s a major race, especially when 3-year-olds compete against older horses. He broke the track record, which was truly impressive,” O’Brien stated.

Earlier in the season, City of Troy had a rocky start, finishing ninth in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1). O’Brien attributed this to an overconfident approach and not having the colt in top form. However, he quickly rebounded with strong wins in the Epsom Derby (G1) and Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) leading up to his award-winning performance.

Reflecting on the pressure of maintaining an undefeated streak, O’Brien acknowledged the challenges: “We had a bit of pressure after his Guineas run, but we were fortunate that our team worked hard to get him back on track.” The derby victory was particularly sweet for O’Brien, marking his 10th win in this prestigious race, which he described as a benchmark for Thoroughbred breeding.

One of the most noteworthy moments during City of Troy’s journey came not from competition, but from a training session. While prepping for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), he worked out on the Tapeta surface in Southwell, drawing thousands of eager spectators who wanted to see the young star in action.

After an impressive racing career, City of Troy is gearing up for a new role: stallion duties at Coolmore Stud in Ireland. His lineage speaks volumes, being the son of the Triple Crown winner Justify and a product of the group 1-winning mare Together Forever, who is a descendant of the legendary stallion Galileo.

“We believe he has the potential to be very special,” O’Brien remarked about the new stallion. “He’s a medium-sized horse with a fantastic stride and determination. Justify achieved greatness, and City of Troy has shown the promise to follow in those footsteps.”