Continuing our series, Adam Houghton reveals his love affair with Juddmonte International and where the latest name on the roll of honor is among his York greats.
Horse of the Year: City Of Troy
'Dull!' I can almost hear the cries of derision from the desk here in my closet, the accusation that I'm simply following the crowd with further praise for the mantelpiece of City Of Troy's altogether more ample box at Coolmore Stud.
While it's unlikely I'll win an originality award with this selection, how many other horses, if any, would have had the appeal this year to make me plan a maiden visit to Southwell on a day off? , just to watch them take part in a gallop at the racetrack? Not many, I can tell you that.
The power to put bums in seats like City Of Troy did belongs to only a select few. Whether you agree with Aidan O'Brien and insist that this was the best horse he ever trained is neither here nor there. What's crucial to a racing fan is what feelings the son of Justify evoked when watching him, what emotions he evoked on both his best and worst days.
From the deflation of his flop in the 2,000 Guineas to the glorious redemption of his Derby win, we've been through it all with City Of Troy in 2024, but the day he truly cemented his place in my affections was when he produced one Masterstroke of winning the G1 Juddmonte International on my beloved Knavesmire.
It's a tried and tested way if you want to find favor with this local boy. The Juddmonte will always be my favorite competition on the Flat racing calendar and the teenage fun I had watching career-defining performances at York from the likes of Frankel (GB) and Sea The Stars (Ireland) may never be surpassed . No matter how long I live to pursue this sport. It is to City Of Troy's great credit that he has probably gotten as close to this horse as any horse ever can.
It's one thing to lower the course record set by the great Sea The Stars some 15 years ago, but it was the manner in which he did it and the joy it brought that will hopefully be remembered for a long time, together with the Juddmonte Titans of years gone by.
City Of Troy was sent straight to the lead by Ryan Moore and was simply not suited to overtaking as the 13-strong field climbed up the long straight. Even at the finish line he still looked eager to run, as became his trademark on his best days, this time having completed a mile, two furlongs and 56 yards of the Knavesmire faster than any other horse in history.
It wasn't like he was punching trees either. Just look at who finished right behind him, with French Raider ace Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), eventual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot { GB}) and Durezza (Jpn ) (Duramente {Jpn}), runner-up in the G1 Japan Cup last month, take three of the next four spots.
For those of us who grew fond of him, City Of Troy's swansong at the GI Breeders' Cup Classic didn't go as hoped, but again, it's neither. What matters is how it felt to watch him, the nervous anticipation he inspired from over 5,000 miles away as he took his place on the Del Mar floor.
Having this effect on you is a power only available to a select few, and that is why 2024 will always be remembered for me as the Year of Troy. It certainly wasn't tedious.
CITY OF TROY went all out in the £1.25 million Juddmonte International! @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/H5CKF7kCCM
– Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 21, 2024
One for next year: Treble Tee
Treble Tee (Ireland) found his way into my notebook when he successfully launched his career at Newmarket at the end of October, but it wasn't until I did a bit of research for a recent issue of Winter Watch that I came to the conclusion that these were the three – year vintage colt that I wanted to get behind me in 2025.
The Aston Martin Novice Stakes looked on paper to be a sultry race of its kind, with a whole host of well-behaved novices from sturdy yards taking part, and it was already proving to be an informative contest with the fifth and seventh place finishers both on the won overall. Weather in the last few weeks.
In the race itself, Treble Tee belied his inexperience with a classy performance and really impressed with the way he finished the race in the final furlong as he came into the race two lengths ahead of Mudbir (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Target came. ), a sibling of multiple Group 1 winners Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) from the Gosden yard.
Treble Tee was trained by Simon and Ed Crisford and was purchased at the Arqana October Yearling Sale for €55,000. He is one of five winners out of seven runners from his mother who won the list. The others also include the G3 Prix Chloe heroine Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}). He's a wealthy guy very similar to his father, the Persian King (Irish), and it won't be a surprise if he makes significant progress from two to three.
🏆 5 winners in just 8 days from #PersianKing!!!
Etreham-bred debutant TREBLE TEE wins the @astonmartin Novice Stakes over 1400m at @NewmarketRace 🚀 A great result to end an exceptional week! 👑 Congratulations everyone @edcrisford @SimonCrisford @the_doyler pic.twitter.com/pVsOkTKHGM
— Haras d'Etreham (@Haras_d_Etreham) October 23, 2024
Stallion follows: Ardad
Ardad (Ire) was perhaps the surprise package among the leading first stallion sires of 2021, with G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes hero Perfect Power (Ire), G3 Sirenia Stakes scorer Eve Lodge (GB) and G2 Coventry Stakes in third Stelle Vintage Clarets (GB) is among his 23 individual two-year-old winners in Europe this year.
Admittedly, things haven't always been glossy sailing for the son of Kodiac (GB) in the meantime – he only had two youth winners from 13 runners last year – but I expect large things from him in 2025 if the support he receives increases Breeders who received them after witnessing the success of his first runners were to begin to bear fruit.
Ardad, who stood at Overbury Stud in 2022 for a fee of £12,500, up from £4,000 last year, was the most dynamic stallion in Britain this year with 205 mares. He reportedly has 153 two-year-olds representing him in 2025, “by far his largest and best-behaved bunch yet,” according to Overbury’s Simon Sweeting.
Only time will tell if there is another Perfect Power among them, but the sheer volume of numbers alone should give him every chance of producing another good force.
