The Cartier awards were given out this week, and it will come as no surprise to know that City Of Troy was announced as being as the horse of the year for 2024.
The Aidan O’Brien runner was retired to stud after his trip across to the Breeders Cup, which wasn’t a success, but his exploits earlier in the year were good enough to win him this award.
🏆 The four-time Group 1 winner City Of Troy (Justify) has been named @Cartier Horse of the Year at the 34th Cartier Racing Awards in London on Wednesday evening.
Fellow award winners incl. Charyn, Kyprios, Porta Fortuna, Bradsell, and more. Details ⬇️https://t.co/UvvewJ7dSB
— TDN (@theTDN) November 20, 2024
He claimed three of the biggest middle distance races during the summer, bouncing back in style after a disappointing run in the 2000 Guineas.
City Of Troy ended his career with a total of eight career runs, winning six of them. He was a perfect three from three as a two year old, then three from five as a three year old.
Will City Of Troy be Regarded as an All-Time Great?
There’s been a lot of talk around City Of Troy this season, and just whether he is a great or not. My gut feeling is that he’ll never be regarded as one, because he failed to win in two of his biggest tests.
Unbeaten as a two year old, he went into the 2000 Guineas as an odds on favourite but could only finish ninth. Straight to the Derby, he bounced back in style, winning the Epsom showpiece by just under three lengths.
He would then go on to win the Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte International at York to give him the three major flat races at middle distances over the summer.
A trip to America for the Breeders Cup Classic was always going to be a tall order, taking on one of the richest races in horse racing. After missing the start, he was behind the kickback and, to be truthful, hated the whole experience.
Eighth in that race was his final trip to the track before retirement, and while it may have left him with a disappointing end, you certainly can’t fault the O’Brien team for giving it a shot.
More Cartier Awards Winners
Elsewhere, the rest of the Cartier awards for 2024 were also given out on the same evening.
Charyn was the Champion Older Horse, a multiple Group One winner this season, and a horse that has continued to thrive with racing this season. He had his first run back in March at the season opening meeting at Doncaster and ran for the final time just a couple of weeks ago.
Lake Victoria, trained by Aidan O’Brien, took the two year old filly award while the Charlie Appleby trained Shadow Of Light took the two year old colt award. Both horses are some of the most exciting horses in training and will be looking to emulate City Of Troy next season as three year olds.
Bradsell won the sprinter of the year award, and Kyprios won the Stayer of the Year award for those who race at distances at both extremes of the racing calendar.
