Coolmore has confirmed that City Of Troy will retire to stud in Ireland following his bid for glory in the Breeders' Cup Classic next month.
Hailed by trainer Aidan O'Brien as "the best we've ever trained", he is aiming to break new ground as a champion on turf and dirt.
As a son of American Triple Crown hero Justify, O'Brien has always harboured hopes he will be able to transfer his huge ability to the dirt and he took part in a specific run-through at Southwell recently on a different surface in preparation.
Apart from his inexplicably poor run in the 2000 Guineas, City Of Troy has an unblemished record.
He won the Dewhurst, which ensured he was champion juvenile last season, and after his Guineas flop bounced back to win the Derby.
Subsequently, he has added Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International victories - and the Breeders' Cup has always loomed large.
"He's definitely the best we've ever trained, no doubt about it," said O'Brien to www.coolmore.com.
"Everything he's done from the start has suggested that. He's the most amazing horse with a fantastic temperament and an incredible stride.
"He just never seems to tire and is really only getting going at the end of his races, so Ryan (Moore) has often had a job to pull him up. We still don't really know how much more there is under the bonnet. I think he'll make into an unbelievable stallion."
CITY OF TROY to Retire to Coolmore Stud
— Coolmore (@coolmorestud) October 12, 2024
European Champion 2YO and European Champion 3YO elect CITY OF TROY will retire to Coolmore's base in Fethard following his final start in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
🔗Find out more here: https://t.co/N4Y5pTwayx#CoolmoreSires… pic.twitter.com/wDNFapalPx
Coolmore's MV Magnier added: "As a yearling, he was rated the nicest Justify we have bred and even before he won his maiden at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend, Aidan was enthusing about him like no other before.
"It's seriously exciting to watch him in his work and in his races. He also seems to have really caught the imagination of the racing public, which is great for the sport.
"The team in America were very keen for him to stand alongside his sire Justify at Ashford but the home team have won the day and we're delighted to be able to offer such a unique talent to our European clients.
"He's the perfect blend of Justify and Galileo; a remarkable horse who seems to be getting better and better, as his last run at York - where he lowered Sea The Stars' track record - was undoubtedly his best performance."
In other Ballydoyle news, The Lion In Winter is unlikely to run again this year having been ruled out of Newmarket's Darley Dewhurst Stakes with a foot infection.
The son of Sea The Stars is unbeaten in two starts and was preparing to step up to Group One company after creating a taking impression in the Acomb Stakes at York.
Already favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas and Derby, he was also the overnight market leader for the Rowley Mile's seven-furlong event before being withdrawn on Saturday morning.
Aidan O'Brien confirmed it was a foot infection that was responsible for his big-race absence but is content to pull stumps on his two-year-old campaign at this stage, having satisfied connections with his on-track displays so far.
"It's a foot infection and they can take a while and can come very quick overnight - it's just an abscess that could release and be gone in a couple of days, but could take 10 days," said O'Brien.
"I don't think we will be pushed to run again and he has had his two runs, which is great. He's learned plenty now and I think talking to the lads, we won't be rushing to run again.
"You race them at two to teach them for next year and I suppose we saw plenty from him the last day. It would be tough ground too and that might not have been ideal to bottom him in that either."
