'Ten furlongs won't be a problem' - City Of Troy heading to Sandown as Coolmore opt for Coral-Eclipse over Irish Derby

Derby winner City Of Troy will bypass the Irish equivalent at the Curragh later this month and instead line up in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse on July 6 in a move that promises to electrify Sandown's midsummer showpiece.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was outstanding when bouncing back from 2,000 Guineas disappointment to earn Classic glory at Epsom, with connections subsequently toying between Sandown and the Irish Derby before a potential dirt campaign later in the season.

On Sunday it was revealed Coolmore's 2023 champion juvenile will drop back in trip to a mile and a quarter in an attempt to follow up his two-and-three-quarter-length Derby success at the start of the month.

O’Brien said: "City Of Troy has pleased everyone since Epsom and the plan is to head to Sandown next for the Eclipse. We were delighted with him at Epsom and we’ve been delighted with him at home since then too. It’s all gone smoothly.

Aidan O'Brien on City Of Troy: "He has plenty of pace so the drop to ten furlongs won’t be a problem"Credit: Alan Crowhurst

"He has plenty of pace so the drop to ten furlongs won’t be a problem for him and we’re all looking forward to seeing what he can do at Sandown."

Los Angeles, who finished third behind City Of Troy at Epsom, will attempt to emulate his sire Camelot by winning the Irish Derby on June 30. The Group 1 winner is a 5-4 shot with Paddy Power to score at the Curragh.

O'Brien added: "Los Angeles ran a big race at Epsom and has done well since. We think the Irish Derby will suit him.’’

City Of Troy is an even-money favourite (from 6-4) with the sponsor for next month's Coral-Eclipse, and the firm's spokesman David Stevens said: "It's fantastic news that the Derby winner and one of the most talked about horses for several seasons is to be aimed at the Coral-Eclipse.

"City Of Troy is sure to be sent off a red-hot favourite at Sandown, when he bids to become the first Epsom hero since Golden Horn to follow up in this clash of the generations."

In addition to updates on plans for City Of Troy and Los Angeles, Coolmore revealed on their website that Auguste Rodin, the winner of last year's Derby, would be aimed at the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, for which he is the general 6-4 favourite despite his defeat to White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month.

It was also announced that Coolmore's Sierra Leone, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday for US trainer Chad Brown, would be aimed at the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 24.

That race has already been highlighted as a possible target for City Of Troy, whose unbeaten record came to an end at Newmarket last month when he finished a below-par ninth of 11 behind Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas.

Before his surprise loss in the Guineas, City Of Troy had registered victories at the Curragh and in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket before striking at the top level in the Dewhurst Stakes at HQ in October.

Coral-Eclipse (Sandown, July 6)
Coral: Evs City Of Troy, 5 Passenger, 6 Economics (needs to be supplemented), 7 Auguste Rodin, 8 Luxembourg, White Birch, 10 Alflaila, 12 Emily Upjohn, Inspiral, 16 bar.

How could the rest of City Of Troy's season look?

Coral-Eclipse
City Of Troy will be sent off a short-priced favourite to follow up his impressive Derby success in Sandown's clash of the generations on July 6.

Travers Stakes
The son of US Triple Crown winner Justify is 2-1 for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot at the end of next month, but his connections have expressed their desire to try him on dirt and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 24, for which he is as short as 5-2, could be his next port of call. The Juddmonte International on August 21 and Irish Champion Stakes in early September would be considered more traditional options.

Breeders' Cup Classic
O'Brien and Coolmore have unfinished business in the Breeders' Cup Classic, which they came agonisingly close to winning with Giant's Causeway in 2000. The Travers serves as a natural springboard to the Grade 1 on November 2 and City Of Troy is a general 6-1 favourite. If the dirt experiment did not go to plan in August, then the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp would be a logical target for the three-year-old, who is a 4-1 favourite for the Group 1 ahead of Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega.

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'There's no doubt he's the best Derby winner we've had' - City Of Troy and Aidan O'Brien silence the doubters 

Tom Segal is surprised by the Derby narrative - but thinks we haven't seen anything like the best of City Of Troy yet 

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