City Of Troy set to face quality field in Juddmonte International - but stablemate Los Angeles likely to head to Great Voltigeur
![City Of Troy (Ryan Moore) wins the Derby at Epsom](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F4d275e701025-city-of-troy.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
City Of Troy will face up to 15 rivals when he bids to land a high-quality running of the Juddmonte International on Wednesday, but they may not feature his Irish Derby-winning stablemate Los Angeles.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained star bounced back from his 2,000 Guineas flop to record a brilliant success in the Derby, before following up in the Coral-Eclipse last month. He aims to join the likes of Australia, Sea The Stars and Authorized in winning both the Derby and Juddmonte International – the feature race on the opening day of York's Ebor festival – in the same year this century.
Los Angeles remains among his potential competition but he is more likely to line up in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes after being supplemented at a cost of £20,000. The dual Group 1 winner is a leading contender for next month's St Leger and could face seven rivals in the trial for the Doncaster Classic.
Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly, who finished three and a quarter lengths clear of Los Angeles at Epsom, is still in contention for the Juddmonte International, while a talented older division is set to be headed by Alflaila. The five-year-old won the York Stakes over course and distance last month and will be joined in the line-up by Israr, who is also owned by Shadwell, who will bidding for their third consecutive win in the race.
White Birch could make his comeback at York having been absent since winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May, while Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Bluestocking has also been left in by sponsors Juddmonte, although she also has the option of the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday.
The Aga Khan's Calandagan, an impressive winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, could head a two-strong French team that also includes the Jerome Reynier-trained Zarakem, while Japan's Durezza may add extra international flavour.
![Team Zarakem celebrate after finishing second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2Fff319076bf50-pxl20240619153215758.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Zarakem will attempt to provide Reynier with a first British Group 1. The five-year-old came close to that breakthrough when runner-up behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales's Stakes in June, and is a 16-1 chance for the York highlight.
"The plan is to run and Maxime [Guyon] will be on board again," Reynier said. "We'll repeat the same journey as before the royal meeting, stopping over at Chantilly on the way. He showed with his win in the Prix d'Harcourt and his runner-up effort at Ascot that he has the right to be running in this company."
Zarakem's main aim this season remains the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, but Reynier is confident the Knavesmire test will play to his strengths.
He added: "The International falls perfectly in the calendar with a view to the Arc. We'll see how he runs at York with the thought that he might get different conditions in the Arc, knowing that he goes on all types of ground. He was still going forward at the line in the Prince of Wales's so the long home straight at York should suit him and I'd be confident that the extra half a furlong will also help."
Queen's Vase winner Illinois is among four stablemates who could take on Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur, along with Chief Little Rock, Euphoric and The Equator. Derby fourth Deira Mile and the classy King's Gambit are also among the eight who remain in contention for the Group 2.
A clash between two leading Classic hopefuls for next year also looks set to take place, with the O'Brien-trained The Lion In Winter and Godolphin's Ruling Court among 20 horses still in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes.
Juddmonte International confirmations
- Alflaila Owen Burrows
- Continuous Aidan O'Brien
- Docklands Harry Eustace
- Durezza Tomohito Ozeki
- Hans Andersen Aidan O'Brien
- Israr John and Thady Gosden
- Maljoom William Haggas
- Royal Rhyme Karl Burke
- White Birch John Joseph Murphy
- Zarakem Jerome Reynier
- Bluestocking Ralph Beckett
- Ambiente Friendly James Fanshawe
- Calandagan Francis Graffard
- City Of Troy Aidan O'Brien
- Ghostwriter Clive Cox
- Los Angeles Aidan O'Brien
Coral: 8-11 City Of Troy, 5 Calandagan, 7 Alflaila, 9 Ambiente Friendly, 14 White Birch, 16 Bluestocking, Ghostwriter, Zarakem, 20 Israr, 25 Durezza, Maljoom, 33 Docklands, 50 Los Angeles, Royal Rhyme, 66 Continuous, 200 Hans Andersen
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Published on inYork Ebor festival
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