City of Troy looks streets ahead of Newmarket rivals

CITY Of Troy will not be much of a price for today’s Qipco 2000 Guineas, but it is hard to side against him in the Newmarket Classic.

Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners have held this Justify colt in the highest of regard since his winning Curragh debut in July, after which he promptly graduated to Group Two level with a brilliant sixand-a-half-length success over Haatem in the Superlative Stakes.

City Of Troy missed a subsequent National Stakes run due to unsuitable ground but he made up for the lost opportunity when romping home by three and a half lengths in the Dewhurst.

The reopposing Alyanaabi took second that day, with Haatem fifth and Iberian in sixth, but City Of Troy won with any amount in hand so there is no reason to think they can turn that form around.

Rosallion is one of those to provide a fresh challenge, but all the updates from Ballydoyle have been positive and City Of Troy looks sure to improve for a longer trip given his pedigree.

Twilight Calls can snap a lengthy winless streak with victory in the William Hill Palace House Stakes.

Henry Candy’s charge has not hit the target since securing a handicap victory at this track in April 2022, before going on to finish fifth in the Palace House and second in the King’s Stand Stakes, after which he embarked on an extended break.

He returned to action in this race last term but with soft ground and an unfavourable draw against him, he was beaten five lengths in ninth which set the tone for a season highlighted by a luckless fourth place in the King’s Stand.

Twilight Calls has twice won on his seasonal bow and the six-yearold can get his campaign off to a better start this time with good ground ideal.

Fellow Cheveley Park runner Unequal Love can also get on the scoreboard in the William Hill British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes.

A four-times winner last term, she had to settle for fourth over the same six furlongs she faces here on her final start in Listed company in October, but a similar effort should see her in the frame again.

Queen Of The Pride can enhance her already substantial paddock value with victory in Goodwood’s British Stallion Studs EBF Daisy Warwick Fillies’ Stakes.

Her dam Simple Verse won both the St Leger and on Champions Day, while Queen Of The Pride is one of Roaring Lion’s few progeny having stood for one season before his untimely death.

Down the field over a mile at Newmarket on her first attempt last summer, a switch up to 10 furlongs saw her come good at the second attempt, with a further move up to a mile and a half here a positive move.