David Jennings: At least we know City Of Troy can win ugly - because this wasn't pretty at all

Well, he won, but that is where the compliments end. 

The problem with a horse like City Of Troy is that winning is not good enough. Even John Magnier admitted as much afterwards, telling us the underwhelming performance was "not what we were expecting." Ryan Moore then proceeded to say something I never thought he would say about any horse, ever. 

"Beforehand, I thought he would probably beat them ten lengths, to be honest with you," Moore said, before adding: "I wouldn't be surprised if he does that next time." It is the first time his tongue has lost the run of itself. 

Next time, eh? That will probably be the Juddmonte International or the Irish Champion Stakes. York or Leopardstown. Home or away. We will learn a lot more when he answers either of those questions, if he can. 

But, back to this subdued Sandown show, and what to make of it all. 

He seemed to like the ground about as much as Britain likes the Tories right now. He didn't move with the same sort of fluency as he did at Epsom and he won in spite of the conditions. Of that we can be certain. 

City Of Troy did it the hard way in the EclipseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He didn't handle the bend particularly well here either and Ghostwriter ghosted up his inside to get first crack at Hans Andersen. Moore began to get busy passing the two-furlong pole and everything was an effort from that point on. Indeed, there was a fleeting moment about 150 yards out when Al Riffa looked like he might sweep by.

This was not the sort of race for scares like that. It was an extremely ordinary Eclipse and he was getting 10lb from a horse rated 114. The horse who never gets tired shouldn't have looked tired a furlong out in this sort of company, but he did. 

That said, the further he went, the more in command he was and the victory was a bit more emphatic at the line that it looked like being 100 yards before it. His class came through. 

At least now we know he can win ugly, because this wasn't pretty. 

City Of Troy does deserve the benefit of the doubt, though. These weren't his terms and conditions. When he does get quicker ground, either at York or Leopardstown, we will see the real son of Justify and that is still something to look forward to. 

A penny for the thoughts of the White Birch camp, by the way. The way things panned out here suggest the grey colt might well have had a big say in the finish, especially on this sort of a surface. 

He didn't make Sandown, though, and it was City Of Troy's Eclipse. He won and that's the main thing, I suppose. 

Read these next:

'I got it wrong' says Ryan Moore after Derby ace City Of Troy knuckles down to land Coral-Eclipse at Sandown 

'We enjoy trying to do something out of the ordinary' - John Magnier not ruling out Breeders' Cup Classic for City Of Troy  

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