City Of Troy gave Aidan O’Brien his 10th Derby success as he returned to form to win at Epsom ahead of Ambiente Friendly and stablemate Los Angeles.
Ryan Moore, winner of the Derby four times, completed the son of Justify, who failed in the last 2000 Guineas, in mid-division while another stablemate Euphoric took the field.
He had a loose horse for company out at the front after Voyage unseated Pat Dobbs left the stall and still led when they turned for the front, with Moore making steady progress on board City Of Troy.
After passing the far rail and accelerating quickly, City Of Troy moved forward around two furlongs with Ambiente Friendly also running on the right under Robert Havlin.
But City Of Troy stayed strong in the closing stages to take the honors by two and three quarters ahead of Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles, who had been tracking Euphoric for much of the race, and the Deira Mile.
City Of Troy had been a superstar youngster before finishing ninth behind Famous Speech at Newmarket. However, like his stablemate Auguste Rodin 12 months ago, the 3/1 favorite silenced any doubters with a stunning display at the blue riband event.
The city of Troy is superior to Ambiente Friendly
O’Brien said: “The exciting thing for us is Justify (father); he looks very special and the class he has, the speed and the stamina, is amazing.
“Ryan gave them an incredible ride and I’m grateful to everyone for the work they’ve done.
“We know that Guineas was wrong and I made a mistake training him, that’s the bottom line. There were stones that I didn’t see, he was very fresh, he wasn’t ready, he blew it, that’s the truth.
“But we learned from that and realized what he was capable of – and everything has been good since then.”
Jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who beat a record 10th Derby winner, with the trophy after City Of Troy’s success.
Asked if City Of Troy was the best Derby winner he had ever trained, O’Brien said: “I have no doubt!
“Because he has cruise, he has balance, he’s fast and he stays. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”
Reflecting on his victory, Moore added: “I had a good position but the horse in front of me was not fit to lead me as far as I wanted, so I had to find a little room.
“The race opened with a loose horse and I ran well into the straight. He picked up and moved to the front easily and I felt he was still inexperienced.
Moore acknowledges the crowd after winning The Derby at City Of Troy
“With the horse loose in front of him, I thought he didn’t know what to do, but he changed the lead near the line and went on again.
“I’m just happy because he showed like a two-year-old, but there were a few things that went wrong during the day in the Guineas. The plan and it paid off.
“We believe that if he turns up like we think he will, it will be very good for him.
“I’m always happy where I am, it won’t always be smooth with the field that size, but he took me there easily. He was in control of the fair way out.”
Havlin, who has replaced Callum Shepherd in the Ambiente Friendly, said: “I saw a nightmare coming up the left! I have raced several times in the head last week and it almost worked like clockwork.
“I thought I was still going to travel at the two (furlong) pole and he went well. He found a lot, but the winner found more.
“I knew he was there and I could see the City Of Troy out of the corner of my eye. But I was also trying to keep an eye on the loose horse.
“I have decided to make it and I go round the loose horse. I thought my only chance to beat Ryan Moore is to play the loose horse – he can take both of us out if I go inside.
“He has been beaten by better horses today and his best days are yet to come. He still needs to grow mentally.”
