Derby and Eclipse hero City Of Troy is a clear favourite to extend his Group 1-winning run to a hat-trick in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting. The race is run over 1m2½f and is set to take place at 3.35pm on Wednesday, 21st August.
Having recovered from a desperately underwhelming 2000 Guineas reappearance when ninth in the opening Classic of the season, the son of Justify has justified his reputation, soaring to a clinical Derby success while demonstrating he possesses just as many battling qualities to fend off the field in the Eclipse at Sandown. He is odds-on, at a best price of 4/5, to record yet another top level success.
His nearest rival in the market at peak odds is Francis-Henri Graffard’s raider Calandagan. He won Royal Ascot’s King Edward VII Stakes in glorious isolation, rinsing his rivals by six lengths and more. While that form has taken some knocks, it was visually destructive and he could be versatile enough back in trip too. He sits at 7/1.
Two-time Group 2 York Stakes winner Alflaila is next in with course and distance form on his side, although he will need to step up on his previous efforts at the top level. Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly travelled brilliantly at Epsom and could be a live danger back at this distance too after not seeing out 1m4f in the Irish Derby. Both he and Alflaila are 8/1.
This quartet are clear in the betting, with another French raider in Zarakem, Eclipse third Ghostwriter and unlikely runner White Birch all at 16/1.
Juddmonte International Stakes Odds
| Horse | Trainer | Best Odds |
| City Of Troy | Aidan O’Brien | 4/5 |
| Calandagan | Francis-Henri Graffard | 7/1 |
| Alflaila | Owen Burrows | 8/1 |
| Ambiente Friendly | James Fanshawe | 8/1 |
| BAR 16/1 |