City Of Troy Breaks Track Record in G1 Juddmonte International

It was another big performance for City of Troy (3c Justify x Together Forever, by Galileo) on Wednesday when he easily broke Sea The Stars’ track record in the Group I Juddmonte International.

City Of Troy jumped to the front nearly immediately in the 1 5/16-mile turf race at York and controlled the pace from there. Jockey Ryan Moore looked completely confident in his mount throughout the running, not asking for much until he hit the final quarter mile.

The colt immediately found another gear to hold off Gleneagles’ Calandagan by a length – with that one also finishing in a faster time than the previous course record.

“It wasn't really the plan and when you see he was getting hassled the whole way round and had to do it the hard way, it makes it a very impressive performance indeed,” said Coolmore’s MV Magnier of the stable’s homebred. “He beat Sea The Stars 's record by more than a second and that speaks volumes really. He's a very special horse and we are very lucky to have him.”

This was the sixth win in seven starts for last year’s European Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and his third straight Group I win with two of those coming against his elders. The colt’s connections are still eying the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

"We thought [he was the best we’ve ever had] as a two-year-old, we always did think it," said trainer Aidan O’Brien. "Everything he's done from the day we trained him suggested that. He was the most special horse we ever had.

“As a two-year-old he was naturally very quick early and he dominated and kept going and that's what he did today. Ryan gave him a brilliant ride, he controlled it very well. I think we see the best of him when he bounces out strong and is let to rock. He gets into a massive tempo and he really keeps going."

City of Troy is one of five stakes performers out of Group I winner Together Forever, who herself is one of three Grade I winners for her own dam. Together Forever also produced City of Troy’s Group III placed full brother Unbelievable and his Group III winning half-brother Military Style.

The mare produced an unraced Uncle Mo filly in 2022 named Takemetothemoon, who holds entries to two Autumn Group I races, and returned to Justify this season.

Justify’s two Grade I winners in 2024 is second best among all North American sires alongside Uncle Mo with the stallion leading all sires by percentage of blacktype horses to runners, graded stakes horses to runners, and Grade I horses to runners.