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What Next For Derby Hero City Of Troy?

Here at betting.bet we take a look at some of the races where we could see flat racing’s star attraction over the next few months
City Of Troy brushed off his 2000 Guineas disaster to land the Betfred Derby in emphatic style at Epsom at the weekend. The Aidan O’Brien star was likened to Frankel after a superb juvenile season but bombed in the first Classic of the year last month. However, just like stablemate Auguste Rodin twelve months ago, City Of Troy bounced back from flopping in the Guineas to land the biggest prize in British flat racing.
Since his Epsom triumph, Timeform have upped City Of Troy’s rating from 123 to 127 and he is now the highest-rated three-year-old. So where does Aidan O’Brien take City Of Troy next? Here at betting.bet we take a look at some of the races where we could see flat racing’s star attraction over the next few months.
Royal Ascot Appearance Unlikely
City Of Troy’s odds for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot have shortened since Saturday’s Derby win but after bombing in the Guineas, he is unlikely to step immediately back down to one mile. A run Stateside is far more likely with Aidan O’Brien set to take City Of Troy to the USA for the Group 1 Travers Stakes in August. City Of Troy is currently available at 7/2 for the Travers Stakes behind favourite, Sierra Leone (9/4). However, we may see City Of Troy a few times in the UK prior to that run at Saratoga. After winning the Betfred Derby, O’Brien was pressed on his plans for City Of Troy, commenting,
"We had a plan, his first three races were the Guineas, the Derby and then Saratoga on dirt over 10 furlongs (for the Travers Stakes).
"The lads will talk about that and talk to Ryan and decide what they want to do. The only thing I'm not sure about is Ryan said he was very babyish today and whether he would be able to deal with a race like that straight away I'm not sure, but the lads will all talk and make that decision.
"Looking at him today, there doesn't seem to be any end to his stamina and that's a trait in all the Justifys, they just keep going.
"It will be a hard decision for the lads. If he doesn't go [to America], there are races like the Eclipse and the King George to think of and later on the Arc, as we know he stays very well."
Betfair have installed City Of Troy as 4/7 favourite for the Irish Derby at the end of month where he could once again come up against well-supported Derby runners Los Angeles and Ancient Wisdom as well as bet365 Classic Trial winner, Arabian Crown. Auguste Rodin followed up his Derby success by landing the Irish Derby twelve months ago.
As mentioned by Aidan O’Brien, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes is an option for City Of Troy and his odds to win this Group 1 have been slashed from 20/1 to 4/1 second-favourite. Huxley Stakes winner Passenger just heads the Eclipse market at 7/2. City Of Troy is available at the same 4/1 odds for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but no horse has completed a Derby/Arc double since Golden Horn in 2015.
City Of Troy Selected Race Odds
If you are looking for horse racing online betting options for this race, here are the latest odds (courtesy of Betfair).
Race | Venue | Date | Odds |
---|---|---|---|
St James's Palace Stakes | Ascot | 18th June | 33/1 |
Irish Derby | Curragh | 30th June | 4/7 |
Eclipse | Sandown | 6th July | 4/1 |
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth | Ascot | 27th July | 2/1 |
Travers Stakes | Saratoga (USA) | 24th August | 7/2 |
St Leger | Doncaster | 14th September | 14/1 |
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | Longchamp | 6th October | 4/1 |
Breeders' Cup Classic | Del Mar | 2nd November | 8/1 |