Ryan Moore felt he "got it wrong" aboard City of Troy in his positioning aboard the heavily favored Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) winner, but the talented winner of the Epsom Derby (G1) still prevailed at Sandown Park in workmanlike fashion July 6.
Last season's champion 2-year-old male had to battle to hold off the challenge of the fast-finishing Al Riffa in the final furlong to score by a length.
His jockey regretted positioning last month's impressive Epsom hero in the middle of the track and believed the Justify colt's class came to the fore as he registered a third group 1 victory.
Moore told ITV Racing: "I thought he'd win today but the ground is slower than what he wants. I got it wrong; I took him up the middle and then he wanted to go back to the fence. 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. He still got the job done. The second horse is the only other group 1 winner in that field and handled the ground. I'm delighted he got it done."
City of Troy takes the Coral-Eclipse (G1).
— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) July 6, 2024
pic.twitter.com/h4QwO7VAQe
The rider, who was winning the Eclipse for a fourth time, also reported City of Troy to be unbalanced midway through the race.
He added: "Halfway around the bend he took a bit of a (false) step with me and 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, then being away from the fence he just wasn't comfortable.
"Really, I wasn't happy but he found enough to get it done. I'd say he wants nicer ground but in terms of the trip, I wouldn't be too worried."
Bookmaker Paddy Power kept his price at 3-2 odds for the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York next month. The Aidan O'Brien-trained superstar is also being aimed at a try on dirt at the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Del Mar.
City Of Troy ( Justify ) wins the 2024 Gr.1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown Park . Ryan Moore, Aidan O’Brien / Coolmore @PaulSmith0094 pic.twitter.com/B0b0yZOc3Z
— Tom Magnier Coolmore (@TomMagnier) July 6, 2024
"It would be a dream," said Coolmore's John Magnier about the Classic. "We've tried it a lot and been beaten many times, including with Galileo, and we hit the crossbar with Declaration of War and Giant's Causeway. We enjoy trying to do something out of the ordinary, and while there's life in us, we'll keep trying.
"The dream is to have a horse who can act in the U.S. and here, but it's hard to get that type of horse. At the moment, Justify is delivering on both sides, and we're lucky with him, which gives you some hope that City of Troy is worth trying, and if not him, we'll target the race with something else."
🗣️ "The dream is that you have a horse that will act in America and here." 🇺🇸
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 6, 2024
John Magnier on City Of Troy's victory and what comes next for the superstar three-year-old#ITVRacing | @ChampionsSeries | @coolmorestud | @MCYeeehaaa | @BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/JjaGgpoLnx
The owner/breeder also spoke of the importance of City of Troy, who was unbeaten before his defeat in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1), and Auguste Rodin, a son of Deep Impact, to Coolmore's breeding operation.
"They're the keystone to the future for us," added Magnier. "Everything is about the horses at those classic distances. They're sought after around the world and are hard to come by, especially the ones with the physique City of Troy has. He ticks all the boxes, so all he's got to do is win races."