City Of Troy Horse – Age, rating, trainer, owner, race record and form

Last year's champion two-year-old City Of Troy will aim for Classic success in the Derby at Epsom for his leading connections but does so after a bitterly disappointing comeback in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

His all-conquering trainer retains full faith in his ability but there's no doubting that City Of Troy now has a point to prove.

City Of Troy Owner

City Of Troy runs in the dark blue silks of owners Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith – the powerful Coolmore operation or, as they are so often known, 'The Lads', that back the operation at Ballydoyle.

Coolmore Stud, based in Fethard, County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, is generally acknowledged to be the world's biggest, and best, thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation and they've accounted for some of the greatest horses in the history of racing amongst their past performers.

City Of Troy is a son of Coolmore's stallion Justify, who became the 13th American Triple Crown winner in 2018.

City Of Troy Trainer

City Of Troy is trained by the great Aidan O'Brien, the maestro of Ballydoyle. The Irishman continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility in terms of worldwide success in Flat racing.

He has won 43 Classics in Britain alone and bagged his 100th European Classic via Auguste Rodin in the 2023 Irish Derby.

In 2017 he set a new world record of 26 Group/Grade 1 wins in a calendar year when Saxon Warrior landed the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

City Of Troy Age

City Of Troy is a three-year-old colt, now engaged in his Classic campaign.

City Of Troy Rating

City Of Troy has an official rating of 124 in Britain.

City Of Troy Record

City Of Troy ran three times as a juvenile, winning all of them. He debuted at the Curragh over 7f in July 2023 and justified favouritism at 6/4 under Ryan Moore.

From there, it was onwards to Newmarket for the bet365 Superlative Stakes where he bludgeoned eight rivals in a 6½-length success in that Group 2.

He signed off with success in the Dewhurst back at Newmarket, his maiden Group 1, as he was crowned the champion two-year-old.

In May 2024, he went off 4/6fav in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but after racing on the pace early on, he folded tamely and was beaten more than 16-lengths, finishing ninth of 11 runners in the first Classic of the season in Britain.

City Of Troy Prize Money

City Of Troy has bagged £367,007 for connections in his four races, with three wins and that 2000 Guineas disappointment.

City Of Troy News

The 2000 Guineas was undoubtedly a major setback for the City Of Troy camp, with O'Brien suggesting afterwards that the colt may have been undercooked. The Ballydoyle handler admitted he might have treated City Of Troy like "too much of a god" through the winter months.

O'Brien has won the Epsom Derby an incredible nine times since 2001 – no trainer has won more – and has saddled some absolute equine superstars along the way.

While some may feel the precociously-bred City Of Troy has it all to prove that he wasn't merely a hugely talented youngster, his trainer clearly sits in a different camp when it comes to Derby expectations for the 2/1 favourite.

He told the Racing Post: "For us, I'm not sure we ever sent a horse to the Derby with as much ability. Everything he was doing last year, the statistics were adding up. Even though he won a Dewhurst and only ran over seven furlongs last season, we always knew he was going to be a middle-distance horse.

"Everything has been good since Newmarket. He has done nothing since to make us change the plan which was to start in the Guineas and go to the Derby."

Offering a unique insight into his mindset, the world's most successful trainer pointed the finger at himself.

"The Guineas wasn't meant to be and I feel myself that I hadn't him prepared properly but what we learned will hopefully help us prepare him properly for the Derby," he added.