Irish Flat horse, City Of Troy has ended the 2024 season in Europe with several awards, including the Horse of the Year and Three Year Old Colt of the Year. Those two prizes were handed out at the Cartier Awards in London.
The champion three-year-old won three Group One races in 2024, before retiring to stud. His final appearance came in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at the Breeders’ Cup Championship in California.
Derby Success Is The Highlight of the Year
City Of Troy added his name to the history books when he prevailed in the Derby at Epsom back in June. The son of Justify produced a big performance to give his trainer, Adian O’Brien, a 10th success in the British Classic. The Irishman will be hoping The Lion In Winter can secure him win number 11 in 2025. His latest star is 5/1 in the Paddy Power racing betting.
As the horse race results show, City Of Troy prevailed by just under three lengths in the Derby. He then followed that up with victory in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown a month later, defeating a field of older horses.
🏆 City Of Troy wins the Juddmonte International Stakes! 🏆#ITVRacing | #EborFestival | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/5A89TFW0A7
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 21, 2024
On his final appearance in the UK, City Of Troy won the Juddmonte International at York. Under the hands of Ryan Moore, the colt hit the front of the field very early. Despite showing early pace to lead the field, the Irish horse still had an extra gear left to quicken away from his rivals in the final couple of furlongs of the race.
Ambitious Breeders’ Cup Assignment
Although City Of Troy failed in the last appearance of his career, it was an ambitious move from his connections. He ran in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, despite having no previous experience of running on dirt.
SIERRA LEONE STRIKES GOLD IN THE @BREEDERSCUP CLASSIC! #BC24 pic.twitter.com/RRoFL3p6Io
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 2, 2024
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is one of the few major international races that O’Brien has yet to win. He entered his Derby winner in the race as his sire, Justify, was a previous US Triple Crown winner. City Of Troy had to settle for eighth place in the race won by Sierra Leone.
Had he prevailed at Del Mar in California, City Of Troy would have become the first Derby winner to land the Breeders’ Cup Classic. His defeat means O’Brien’s wait for his maiden success in the Breeders’ Cup Championship feature goes on.
The Next Chapter in His Career
Now he has retired from racing, City Of Troy will stand at stud in Ireland at Coolmore’s breeding operation in Fethard, County Tipperary. His stud fee has been set at $75,000 (around £59,720) and he will cover his first mare in 2025.
Along with Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Auguste Rodin and National Stakes winner Henry Longfellow, City Of Troy is expected to be one of the most popular new stallions in 2025. His first crop of offspring will most likely hit the track in 2028 for their two-year-old campaigns.
The 2025 Flat season begins in March, and the latest crop of three-year-olds will be bidding to replicate a lot of what City Of Troy achieved in 2024.
Feature image for illustration only.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.