City of Troy seeks Breeders’ Cup Classic berth in epic Juddmonte International

Wednesday’s Juddmonte International (G1) at York has the potential be a race for the ages. 

#12 City of Troy (4-5) will try to achieve a feat accomplished only once in racing history. Standing in his way are shippers from France and Japan, a star distaffer, as well as a couple of familiar foes spoiling for a rematch.

On top of the opportunity to cement his legacy in Europe, City of Troy would use the Juddmonte’s “Win and You’re In” perk to book his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Remember that trainer Aidan O’Brien at one stage mentioned the Travers (G1) as a possible goal before shifting gears to the Breeders’ Cup. In the process, City of Troy dislodged star stablemate Auguste Rodin from the Classic discussion. 

The Coolmore/Ballydoyle team has been wanting to win the Classic for years. It would be a quite a coup if City of Troy, a long-ballyhooed son of Coolmore sire Justify, is the one to give them a coveted Classic trophy at last. 

The Juddmonte will make for a spectacular opening day of York’s Ebor Festival, which features three other Breeders’ Cup Challenge events this week. The Acomb (G3), also Wednesday, offers a berth in the Juvenile Turf (G1). 

Here’s an overview of day 1 of the Ebor Festival, in order of post time for Wednesday’s major races, followed by a quick peek at the rest of the week from a Breeders’ Cup perspective.

Acomb (G3): Race 2, 9:25 a.m. ET

In its first year as a “Win and You’re In,” the seven-furlong test has lured two of the most exciting juveniles seen so far this season. 

#6 Ruling Court (4-5), who sold to Godolphin for the top price of more than $2.5 million at the Arqana’s Breeze Up Sale, made a smashing debut at Sandown for Charlie Appleby. O’Brien counters with a smart first-out winner of his own, #7 The Lion in Winter (3-1), who exceeded expectations in his Curragh premiere. 

Perhaps Ruling Court has an edge Wednesday as a Justify colt who came through the two-year-old sales process. The Lion in Winter could blossom as a son of Sea the Stars, but he could well defy that stereotype. 

Great Voltigeur (G2): Race 3, 10 a.m. ET

O’Brien supplemented Irish Derby (G1) star #1 Los Angeles (6-5) to this traditional steppingstone to the St. Leger (G1). The stout son of Camelot was third to stablemate City of Troy at Epsom, and those classic formlines make him the favorite here. 

Stablemate #2 Illinois (5-1) is an honest stayer who should run another fine race but probably lacks the acceleration required to win this.

#5 King’s Gambit (2-1), who does have a change of gear, appeals on the step up to 1 1/2 miles, especially in receipt of five pounds from Los Angeles. An arguably unlucky second in Royal Ascot’s Hampton Court (G3), the Harry Charlton pupil was runner-up to Juddmonte-bound elder Alflaila (more on him below) in a tactical York (G2). 

#6 Space Legend (12-1) and Derby fourth #3 Deira Mile (10-1) are logical players at better odds. 

Juddmonte International (G1): Race 4, 10:35 a.m. ET

City of Troy hopes to add the Juddmonte to his portfolio after a tour de force in the Derby (G1) at Epsom and a more muted score in the Eclipse (G1) last time out. If he can complete the hat trick, he would emulate the all-time great Sea the Stars, who turned the same treble in his historic 2009 campaign. 

That’s not to say that City of Troy would automatically make himself the equal of Sea the Stars. After all, City of Troy flopped in the 2000 Guineas (G1), the first British classic that Sea the Stars won. Moreover, Sea the Stars concluded his conquests in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1). 

But City of Troy could lend more substance to O’Brien’s extraordinary hype with a power-packed display at York. His Eclipse is arguably better than it appeared at first blush. Considering that jockey Ryan Moore described him as green during his Epsom heroics, chances are that he’s capable of more. 

City of Troy will encounter his deepest field so far in the Juddmonte, including a rare Japanese contender in #3 Durezza (30-1). If Durezza doesn’t have the swagger of Zenno Rob Roy, Japan’s 2004 Horse of the Year who missed by a neck in the 2005 Juddmonte, he is a classic winner available at inflated odds. 

Granted, Durezza’s generation of males was overshadowed by the outstanding filly Liberty Island, the top-ranked Japanese sophomore of 2023. Yet Durezza did achieve the best rating among last season’s three-year-old males in Japan, and as a lightly raced type, he still has scope to progress.

Durezza didn’t come to hand early enough to compete in the first two Japanese classics, but he did capture the Oct. 22 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1) in his graded debut. Although that signature win came at about 1 7/8 miles, he has shown a proper turn of foot going shorter, albeit in allowance company. The son of Duramente was also admirably consistent until his latest start in the Tenno Sho Spring (G1), where he picked up an injury. 

Having overcome that setback, Durezza was ready in time to make the York trip. He’s reportedly chasing the bonus linking the Juddmonte and the Japan Cup (G1), his chief objective this November. Connections believe that the flat, wide expanse of York will help him run up to his best. Note that the uneven terrain of Ascot has been cited in the past for disappointing results by the Japanese. 

Japan’s top jockey, Christophe Lemaire, comes in to ride for trainer Tomohito Ozeki, who sent Through Seven Seas to finish fourth in last year’s Arc. Ozeki also trained two-time Hong Kong Vase (G1) winner Glory Vase.

Two other fascinating new rivals are French sophomore #11 Calandagan (7-1) and four-year-old filly #9 Bluestocking (7-1). 

Calandagan bolted up in the 1 1/2-mile King Edward VII (G2) at Royal Ascot for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Reverting to about 1 5/16 miles is a slight question for the Aga Khan homebred at this level, but he had been adept in this vicinity versus lesser. As a gelding, Calandagan wasn’t eligible for the French classics, or else we might have a better gauge on him. Then again, his restrictions at home are prompting connections to look across the Channel. 

Juddmonte’s Bluestocking likewise shortens up after a fine effort at Ascot, where she was most recently runner-up to Graffard’s Goliath in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1). The Ralph Beckett filly was initially slated to return to her own division in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), but she deserves to get her chance here. 

Bluestocking crushed the Middleton (G2) over this course and distance in her seasonal reappearance before earning an overdue Group 1 laurel in the 1 1/4-mile Pretty Polly (G1). Connections are hoping that enough rain materializes to affect the course; as of this writing, the ground is good to firm at York.

Classy three-year-olds #13 Ghostwriter (15-1) and #10 Ambiente Friendly (7-1) must find a way to reverse their recent losses to City of Troy. 

Both can make a case, but they’d need to improve while City of Troy stands still or regresses. At least they receive the same weight concession from their elders (seven pounds from Durezza and the other older males, and four pounds from Bluestocking). 

Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter briefly loomed to challenge in the Eclipse, only to wilt on the unsuitably soft going and wound up third. The ground supposedly blunted City of Troy’s kick, too. In any event, the form has worked out well, with Eclipse runner-up Al Riffa going on to take the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) and fourth-placer See the Fire just missing in the Nassau (G1). 

Ghostwriter was fourth to a couple of other divisional standouts in classics. Staying on behind Notable Speech in the 2000 Guineas, he ran evenly behind Arc favorite Look de Vega in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (G1) on heavy going. We’ve yet to see what Ghostwriter can do in more favorable conditions at this trip.

Ambiente Friendly was a well-beaten second at Epsom, and his subsequent third in the Irish Derby confirmed the idea that he doesn’t quite stay 1 1/2 miles in top company. Cutting back in distance makes sense, judging by how well the James Fanshawe runner travels through his races. 

#1 Alflaila (8-1), likely the best of the European older males in here, boasts the course-and-distance angle after repeating in the York S. on July 27. 

Two starts back, the Shadwell homebred was a useful fourth to Auguste Rodin and #8 Zarakem (20-1) in the Prince of Wales’s (G1) off a long layoff. I’m tempted to think that a race-fit Alflaila can get the better of Zarakem here. Fellow Shadwell hope #5 Israr (20-1) has been rejuvenated by dropping back in distance this term, but these waters are a lot deeper. 

#6 Maljoom (30-1) and #2 Docklands (50-1), both Group 1-placed at a mile, are venturing into the unknown at this trip. #7 Royal Rhyme (60-1) has been beaten by Alflaila in his last pair. #4 Hans Andersen (99-1) has the pacemaking job for City of Troy.

Other BC “Win and You’re In” events at York

Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks offers a free ticket to the Filly & Mare Turf (G1). 

The O’Brien-trained Content has a right to turn the tables on You Got to Me, who got the jump on her in the Irish Oaks (G1). But both must confront elders, led by the accomplished if mercurial Emily Upjohn and the progressive Queen of the Pride.

Friday’s Nunthorpe (G1), which plays the same role for the Turf Sprint (G1), serves up another clash between Big Evs and Asfoora. 

The duo have traded decisions this summer, with Australia’s Asfoora getting up in the King Charles III (G1) at Royal Ascot and sophomore Big Evs holding her off in the King George (G2) at Glorious Goodwood. The high-class Bradsell, who missed both of those festivals, could upend the narrative now that he’s back in business. 

Saturday’s City of York (G2) isn’t part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge program, but it has had implications for the Mile (G1) in recent years. Audience bids to continue his career-best form, while Kinross goes for a three-peat and smart three-year-old sprinter Lake Forest steps up to a seventh furlong.