City Of Troy Targets Further Group One Glory in Coral-Eclipse

(June 30, 2023 – Sandown Park) City Of Troy, the Derby winner, will face seven rivals as he bids for another Group One triumph in the prestigious Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park this Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien’s talented colt famously disappointed in the 2000 Guineas earlier this season but roared back to form with a commanding victory in the Derby last month. Now the Irish maestro is confident City Of Troy can carry that momentum into this 10-furlong test, with the Derby winner set to tackle the undulating Sandown track for the first time.

“Obviously he had an easy week or 10 days after Epsom and then his build up started slowly for the Eclipse, so that was the plan,” explained O’Brien. “When we got him back going, we had the choice of the Eclipse or the Irish Derby, but the plan was for City Of Troy to come here.”

Stablemate Hans Andersen will join the Derby hero in representing the powerful Ballydoyle stable, though City Of Troy is the odds-on favorite to strike over this distance for the first time.

Challengers and Contenders

Among the challengers is Dancing Gemini, who finished sixth in the Derby but will try his luck again for trainer Roger Teal. Kieran Shoemark takes the ride, with Dylan Browne McMonagle required to partner Al Riffa for Joseph O’Brien.

Jayarebe, winner of the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, takes a significant step up in class for Brian Meehan, while owner Jeff Smith is double-handed with Ghostwriter and See The Fire.

Clive Cox is relishing the chance to see Ghostwriter on much drier ground at Sandown, with the colt having finished fourth in both the 2000 Guineas and French Derby this term.

“We are highly respectful of City Of Troy‘s Derby performance, but we feel that a mile and a quarter at Sandown is the best route for Ghostwriter,” said Cox.

Meehan, who won the Eclipse in 2006 with David Junior, is also bullish about Jayarebe‘s chances, stating:

“He’s very progressive and apart from Chester, where he didn’t handle the track, he’s done nothing wrong. He’s very, very good and he’s going to keep improving.”

With the Derby winner City Of Troy the clear focus, a fascinating renewal of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes awaits at Sandown this Saturday.

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