Equinties - CITY OF TROY

Author

BGP Capital
June 03, 2024

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

There wasn’t enough superlatives to describe CITY OF TROY on Saturday.

If you’ve been into racing long enough, you’ll appreciate how unusual the build-up to the Derby was. A palpable tension, an air of uncertainty, a worry that this years Derby was one to forget.

Every thing was focused on CITY OF TROY.

If he was the let down the Guineas suggested he was, then the standard of this years race was so regrettable that Epsom’s poor attendance figures would have been too big for the event.

Then the race happened and the flat world was blown away.

Apologies from the naysayers echoed round between the wow’s and the verbal disbelief.

It’s funny because despite stunning every single person watching, everyone was told. Even Ryan Moore’s face in the pre’s painted the most clear picture. He knew. As did Aidan. All that Coolmore propaganda which seemed so desperate at the time, was just simply a kind message from the lads to say ‘trust us, he’s the real deal’.

CITY OF TROY saved the 2024 Epsom Derby.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

THE AGA DID

When Dermot Weld brings one over for a classic you sit up and take note, even if it has been 43 years since he last won the Epsom Oaks. This however was his 25th English and/or Irish Classic winner.

EZELIYA (by DUBAWI) gave Chris Hayes (very underrated jockey) a dream ride as she settled nicely and quickened when asked to put the race to bed, the jockey said afterwards, “It was copybook, it was like a bit of work, she relaxed beautifully, did everything well and made me look good.”

DANCE SEQUENCE for Godolphin made a gallant effort but got unbalanced in the home straight and EzZELIYA motored past to secure her win for Owner Breeder The Aga Khan. This is the second classic of the season for The Aga Khan after they won the French 1000 Guineas with another homebred, and the season could get even better with the Owner Breeder(s) sitting on 99 individual Group 1 wins.

Dermot Weld said after the race, “We will look at the Irish Oaks or wait for an autumn campaign, which may involve the Arc. She looks like an Irish Oaks filly, but we'll see how she is.”

DANCE SEQUENCE was 2nd and amazingly rank outsider WAR CHIMES was third for David Menuisier who is enjoying a sparkling classic campaign with his 3yo’s having been placed in the English 1000 Guineas (4th), now placed in the Epsom Oaks and last Monday won the German 2000 Guineas. He’s got Tamfana in the French Oaks to come.

SCOTSMAN TO AMERICA

Ahead of Saturday’s Group 3 Diomed Stakes, plenty questioned whether ROYAL SCOTSMAN had trained on from two to three - including us!

Boy did he prove plenty wrong. He from pillar to post in a comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length success which was easier than it will record in the RP form book.

Although he is known for his hold up rides, fair play to Jamie Spencer for this enterprising ride from the front. His ability to set solid (but not too quick) fractions has now revealed to connections that riding him more prominently is the way forward. If Saturday went wrong, they wouldn’t have found this out.

ROYAL SCOTSMAN also holds that extra intrigue about him as he won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes over six furlongs in 2022, finished second in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs after that, and then finished third in last year’s 2000 Guineas over a mile.

So, it looks as if a mile is his max, though he could drop back in trip if needed, and Saturday’s win demonstrated this as he won his race well before the final furlong due to his raw speed.

You would therefore have to think that something like the Breeders’ Cup Mile could be to his liking as a quick eight furlongs around a bend sounds perfect.

His tendency to race a bit with speed (and keenness) was reiterated by Spencer, as he said: “I saw coming down to Tattenham Corner that he was pricking his inside ear and that was showing me he had plenty to offer.

“He’s always been an aggressive horse, but we tried to settle him down and it didn’t really work. We decided to let him go, set his own pace and then he would settle in front. 

"I wasn’t fully in control – if there was a grand on the ground I wouldn’t have been able to reach down and grab it – but I could tell he was relaxing.”

GIVE US MOORE

A constant theme throughout any Flat season is the sheer quality Ryan Moore possesses in the saddle. Whether it’s handling the tough test of Chester or riding an ice cold race at the Breeders’ Cup, we are privileged to have him at the very top.

This weekend, however, he displayed the very best of his ability on two of the biggest races of the weekend.

We’re quite sure every one reading this will have watched the Derby again but just watch Moore on CITY OF TROY. The sheer guts it took to sit and take his medicine at the rear of the field. Confident and brilliant.

But his ride on LUXEMBOURG to win the Group 1 Coronation Cup was even better.

On ground that is softer that usual (so the jockeys were still getting a proper feel for it) with a horse that was having his first start for 62 days having raced in Meydan, he clocked perfect sectionals from the front to wow even his biggest critics.

Simply put, this ride won LUXEMBOURG the race as HAMISH came home with a wet sail, but he couldn’t get there in time.

With the slight question mark hanging over AUGUSTE RODIN’s head for this season, Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore have a horse to go to war with in all the older Group 1s over 1m2f/1m4f, the first of which could be back in the UK.

O’Brien said: "The better the ground the better he'll be, so we think he'll hopefully be a King George horse.

"The good thing is we're now able to take him abroad too, as he loves fast ground and handles the journey well. Hopefully he'll have a lot of good races ahead as physically he's progressed this year. I thought he was stronger than he's ever been and he's very sound. He's brilliant."  

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

Ya’ll Know that LIBERTY LANE should be in this section but we’re not even going to waste our breath. Rather than allowed to be a Group horse, it’s quite clear he’s being saved for a handicap. If you have the ammo to do such a thing to a horse like that, then fair play.

Here are the others to watch out for:

NATIVE AMERICAN - FRIDAY 17.15 EPSOM

We put up NATIVE AMERICAN in the newsletter on Friday and he came so close to landing the Listed Surrey Stakes, but we feel like this could just be the start for him going forward.

The first two horses are decent as it takes ability to race that keenly and still finish out the contest strongly however, NATIVE AMERICAN came from a bit further off the pace and he picked up nicely under James Doyle.

He didn’t have a great deal of room up the rail, so if positioned better nto, he should be one to consider in pattern company. Both horses from the Surrey Stakes look smart.

COOL LEGEND - 13.25 EPSOM SATURDAY

The London Gold Cup form was franked on Saturday as PERSICA won the Lester Piggott Handicap.

These 1m2f early-season three-year-old handicaps tend to be good pieces of form to follow (especially as KING’S GAMBLE won the London Gold Cup) so it’s worth keeping an eye on COOL LEGEND who finished a staying-on sixth on Saturday.

On what was his first start at Epsom, he was keen in the hands of Tom Marquand so the tactics were to hold him up and settle him.

That didn’t go amazingly well, but once they came up the home straight, he started to kick-on again and he ran well through the line.

That was also his first start on good to soft ground and only his second turf start - the handicapper might even drop him a few pounds from his mark of 81, and as he is a SEA THE STARS out of Listed winner (CHILDA), he could well improve plenty this season.

CHIC COLOMBINE - SATURDAY 14.00 EPSOM

Probably the biggest eye-catcher of the weekend came in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes as CHIC COLOMBINE really should have won.

She came around Tattenham Corner boxed-in before trying to go for a gap up the outside of the eventual winner BREEGE. Unfortunately, there was no room at the inn for her as SEA OF THIEVES shut the door on her, so with two furlongs to go, William Buick had to take a pull, bring her right onto the outside, and then wind her up again.

She was only beaten by a neck, but two strides after the line she was ahead and if she had been given a clear route through she would have won. Bigger assignments await for her.

RISK ON

14.15 HAAZEEZ & 18.15 GUTSY GIRL

By the time this newsletter is out the market might have corrected itself but at the time of writing, ELECTROLYTE is 10/11 with HAAZEEZ 6/4. HAAZEEZ could have won at Newbury at that race will prove very, very good form. Archie Watson’s will have to be exceptional to beat this horse first time out. A good single and small double with Fellowes’ other runner GUTSY GIRL who should be the best in the race despite needing the run. Charlie’s in unlucky form with horses hitting the cross bar but this tide has to turn soon. Single on HAAZEEZ and small double.

16.45 HELTER SKELTER

Was pencilled in yesterday but today looks an easier race to break his maiden. This horse is not devoid of ability and will win soon. Guessing what the owners are up to but without that hindrance, looks the right one to be on. 7/2 single.