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| Staff Writer |
Celebrated Irish trainer, Aidan O'Brien was full of praise for City Of Troy, hailing him as the greatest of his 10 Derby winners. The colt, accompanied by a loose horse, surged ahead to win the 245th running of the Epsom Classic by 2/3 quarter lengths.
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O'Brien has now secured the record for most wins by a trainer in the race's history. Despite initial doubts, City Of Troy, delivered a commanding performance, overcoming an unpromising draw in stall one.
The race saw an early twist when Voyage lost his jockey at the start, but the riderless horse behaved impeccably. Ryan Moore expertly guided City Of Troy through the field, overtaking his rivals and securing the lead. The only real threat came from Ambiente Friendly, but City Of Troy proved to be in a league of his own. O'Brien attributed the victory to the hard work of many individuals involved with the horse.
Reflecting on the race, Moore expressed his delight at O'Brien's success and City Of Troy's remarkable comeback.
Over two decades Moore, 40, has been consistently the world’s best.
“The race went well,” he said afterwards. “He did everything beautifully. He was relaxed at the gates, he settled well, had a nice position. There were a couple of horses that weren’t going to bring me too far so I had to find a bit of room. He picked up and went to the front very easily. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with the loose horse.
“But I’m delighted Aidan’s got him back. He didn’t lose faith, he stuck with the plan. If he turned up like we thought he would, we thought he’d be too good.
“If he did as well as he did last year he was the horse to beat and the race was won a fair way out. It was his first time round a bend, a big step up in trip. I’ve always thought he was this sort of horse.
Moore continued: “It’s Aidan’s tenth Derby and he’s been breaking records so long it’s incredible. There’s no one like him – it’s more than being a genius and attention to detail, a lot more than that.
“Everyone works hard in this game but I’ve never known anyone work harder than him. It’s not all down to brilliance, it’s work, time and effort as well.”
“You can’t beat winning the Derby. I quite enjoyed winning the amateur Derby here! I wouldn’t say it was better than last year, or Workforce, but it’s great to have the horse back. It proves last time was just a blip.”
This year's Derby showcased O'Brien's exceptional talent as a trainer and further solidified his reputation as a record-breaking figure in the sport. With City Of Troy's triumph, the stage is set for potential future successes in prestigious races, with City of Troy holding entries in several high-profile event namely in the Gr.1 St James's Palace Stakes ,Gr.1 Irish Derby , Gr.1 Eclipse Stakes , Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes, and Gr.1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Betfair reacted by cutting him to 5-1 (from 16) for the Arc Oct. 6 and 12-1 (from 20) for the Eclipse July 6.
Meanwhile, after a 43-year wait, Dermot Weld secured another Oaks victory as Ezeliya triumphed in The Aga Khan's colors, confirming her status as a top contender. The race saw Making Dreams take an early lead, with Ezeliya steadily progressing to secure a three-length victory.
The race dynamics shifted rapidly as Making Dreams, Treasure, and You Got To Me all faded from the lead. Dance Sequence, previously a disappointing ninth in the 1000 Guineas, surged ahead near the rail, while Ezeliya made significant headway on the outer track.
Ezeliya, a Group Three winner, overtook Dance Sequence and secured a comfortable 3-length victory.
War Chimes, finished a length and a half behind in third place, with You Got To Me coming in fourth, almost four lengths adrift.
Chris Hayes, her jockey, lauded Ezeliya's professionalism, while Weld expressed pride in her relaxed demeanor. Reflecting on the race, Hayes highlighted Ezeliya's flawless performance, crediting her strong start and rhythm.
“She loves to come from off the pace, this is a progressive filly. She’s very relaxed and got a beautiful ride from Chris Hayes. She was cantering down the hill then he gave her a couple of strides and let her go. We will look at the Irish Oaks or wait for an autumn campaign.
"I've been very fortunate. That's my 25th English or Irish Classic and Classic races are the pinnacle, that's what you do it for. You can have all the sprinters you like but give me a Classic any day of the week, that's what you'll be remembered for." A delighted Weld said.
Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby and David Menuisier noted their fillies Dance Sequence and War Chimes efforts respectively, while Ralph Beckett praised the performance of his runners. Ryan Moore acknowledged Ylang Ylang's struggles on the track. Ezeliya's triumph marks a milestone for Weld, hinting at even greater achievements to come.