Derby ace City Of Troy knuckles down to land Coral-Eclipse at Sandown

It said everything of the esteem in which City Of Troy is held that even after becoming Aidan O'Brien's first Derby winner to follow up in the Coral-Eclipse, there was more than an air of an anti-climax at Sandown after an unexpectedly hard-fought victory.

For those closest to him, the overriding emotion appeared relief, although there was no escaping that this was a pale imitation of the performance that saw City Of Troy resurrect his superstar status at Epsom 35 days earlier.

On that occasion he floated around Tattenham Corner, free-wheeled down the hill and arrived in the lead travelling like a Rolls Royce. At Sandown his wheels were skidding haphazardly around the boggy home bend and it took guts rather than grace to get him home in front.

Nevertheless, he took his record to five wins from six starts and, while he might not have added anything to his claim to be Coolmore's answer to Frankel, the intrigue is only likely to intensify after a performance that left as many questions as answers.

It was a long way home from the moment he came off the bridle two furlongs out and a propensity to drift to his right was hardly helping matters. However, once he found the far rail he was able to sustain his advantage over Al Riffa, who moments earlier looked like he was ready to spoil City Of Troy's victory.

City Of Troy returned at odds of 1-4 but had to work hard to winCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"We were very worried about the ground," revealed O'Brien, who puffed out his cheeks before continuing his assessment. "We walked the track before and it was a lot softer than it was in the Dewhurst or anything else. It was soft, tough, deep ground and, in all fairness to the lads [owners the Coolmore partners], 15 years ago they wouldn't have run and would have pulled him out, and I knew that.

"We're so lucky they enjoy their racing so much now and they wanted to be here and they wanted to run him but, having walked it, I was very afraid about it. He's a beautiful, good-ground horse and has obviously won in spite of the ground."

Such is City Of Troy's aura, part-owners John and Sue Magnier both made a rare visit to Sandown to see the son of Justify bid to emulate the likes of Mill Reef, Nashwan, Sea The Stars and Golden Horn, who all followed up in the Eclipse after winning at Epsom, but their desire to run only heaped the pressure on O'Brien.

Asked if it had been a tough watch, the trainer added: "It's always tough because the difference between winning and not winning is massive. Dylan [Browne McMonagle], who rode the second horse, said he thought he had him but, when he got to him, City Of Troy went again.

"I'd imagine the lads will look at the Juddmonte International or the [Irish] Champion and then after that maybe look at America. I'd imagine he could finish off in the Breeders' Cup Classic."

Ryan Moore: "I wasn't happy but he found enough to get him done"

Ryan Moore: "There's a lot more in there. Coming back in now he doesn't feel like he's had a race"Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Ryan Moore, who rode City Of Troy with ice in his veins at Epsom, blamed himself for heading towards the centre of the track in the straight and spoke of a hairy moment rounding the final bend when his partner's action faltered.

"I got it wrong, I took him up the middle and then he wanted to go back to the fence," said Moore. "I never really got it out of him until I really had to. There's a lot more in there. Coming back in now he doesn't feel like he's had a race.

"Halfway around the bend he took a bit of a [false] step with me and [third home] Ghostwriter slipped up my inside which meant we lost a bit of momentum. It took me two and a half furlongs to get him balanced and then being away from the fence he just wasn't comfortable. Really I wasn't happy, but he found enough to get it done."

The Breeders' Cup Classic sits alongside the Triple Crown as the Holy Grail as far as the Coolmore partners are concerned and, having gone so close in that race with Giant's Causeway in 2000, victory in the US would undisputedly lift City Of Troy into wonderhorse status.

John Magnier said only God knew whether City Of Troy had the attributes to win a Classic, but if the ground cannot be fast enough for him on turf then the challenge which racing on dirt brings raises its own questions.

Asked for his take, Moore said: "I've never ridden a Breeders' Cup Classic horse so I don't really know what that takes. I think this horse has the engine and the ability, but we'll have to work out if he has the right action for it."

Al Riffa, trained by Joseph O'Brien, emerged with his reputation enhanced in second and will work back from the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 6, while Ghostwriter could well meet the winner again at York in the International on August 21.

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