Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) had an international stakes double on Saturday with Air Assault staking a claim for the Victoria Derby when winning the Listed SAJC Hill Smith Stakes in Adelaide while in the UK overnight his superstar colt City of Troy earned comparisons with the mighty Frankel for his utterly dominant victory in the Group I Dewhurst Stakes (7f) at Newmarket.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners, City of Troy was lining up for his third run this year and kept his record perfect when cruising to a three and a half length win under Ryn Moore beating Too Darn Hot colt Alyanaabi.
Tasting soft ground for the first time after easy wins on good surfaces, City of Troy ticked that box.
“City of Troy would have absolutely hated that ground and the stride on him is incredible, but he just never gets tired. We had nowhere else to run him and thank goodness we ran him. I've never seen a horse that doesn't get tired,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“He goes again going to the line again. I've never had a horse where we don't know where the limit is. We usually push them to the limit, but we can never find his limit. He has done it the hard way as well, but he would be delighted to get a lead. There is no doubt he is the best two-year-old I've trained.”
City of Troy will head for a winter break as favourite for all the big three year-old races next year.
"He really is our Frankel," said part-owner Michael Tabor.
"I know the way Aidan speaks. We're all optimists, but this horse is special. No question, he's the real deal.
"That's what we feel at this moment. Maybe down the line we'll have egg on our face, but I like to talk before the event and I really feel this horse could be anything."
City of Troy is a half-brother to Group III winner Military Style and is the best of five winners from five to race from Group I winning Galileo mare Together Forever, a full sister to Group I Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together and half-sister to Group I winner Lord Shanakill.
City of Troy is the 5th Group I winner for Justify and is his first from a daughter of Galileo.
