City Of Troy Sixth ‘Rising Star’ For Justify

City Of Troy (2c Justify x Together Forever, by Galileo) made a big splash on debut at the Curragh on Saturday when the Justify juvenile won by 2 ½ lengths to earn Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ status.

Racing over seven furlongs on turf, City Of Troy made it clear from the start that bettors had it right sending him off as favorite. He was one of the front runners in the race and wasn’t willing to give up command of the lead easily. Jockey Ryan Moore started asking the colt for more with two furlongs left to run and the juvenile responded to take a clear lead just outside the final furlong.

In the end, he was 2 ½ lengths better than Gleneagles’ Galen to become the sixth rising star for his sire.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien as a homebred for Coolmore, City Of Troy is a full brother to Justify’s London Gold Cup winner Bertinelli. His Group I winning dam also produced Group III winner Military Style, Group II placed Absolute Ruler, and stakes placed King of Athens.

Together Forever is a full sister to Group I Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together and Group I winner Lord Shankill in addition to the stakes placed Do You Love Me. Their dam is a half-sister to Grade I winner Spanish Fern and to the dam of Grade I winner Heatseeker.

Together Forever foaled an Uncle Mo filly last year as well.

Justify’s 13 stakes performers, two graded stakes winners, and seven graded stakes performers lead all second crop sires this season. His Northern Hemisphere-foaled runners are led by Grade I winner Arabian Lion.