City of Troy, after BC Classic start, will begin stud career at Coolmore’s Irish headquarters
City of Troy, who is preparing for a final career start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, will begin his stud career at Coolmore’s Irish headquarters in 2025.
There was discussion that City of Troy, a son of Triple Crown winner and versatile young sire Justify, could make himself a viable prospect for Coolmore’s Kentucky stud, Ashford, with success on dirt. But Coolmore has now confirmed that the European champion juvenile and four-time Group 1 winner will instead stand in Ireland regardless of the Classic result, providing European breeders with access to a son of Justify.
“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,” Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier said in a release. “He’s the perfect blend of Justify and [broodmare sire] Galileo; a remarkable horse who seems to be getting better and better.”
The announcement on City of Troy’s plans is the latest as post-Breeders’ Cup plans for stallion prospects continue to come into focus.
On this side of the Atlantic, two of the three 2024 American classic winners are spoken for. Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey, who could start in either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or Dirt Mile, is expected to stand in 2025 at Gainesway. Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch has already been retired to Spendthrift Farm, giving that farm a strong hand for the 2025 season. Multiple Grade 1 winner National Treasure, winner of the 2023 Preakness, is likely targeting the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile before standing at Spendthrift next year, and Grade 1 winner Kingsbarns is already available at the farm for inspection.
This year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is to remain in training for 2025, with trainer Kenny McPeek recently indicating the colt does not yet have a stallion deal inked.
“We’ve got to prove some things with him as a stallion prospect,” McPeek said. “I think they’d like to see him win another Grade 1 before they’ll really be attracted to him as a stallion, and they might even want to see him sprint.”
Three other Grade 1-winning candidates for the Breeders’ Cup Classic are spoken for as future stallions, but the dates of their respective retirements have not yet been announced. Sierra Leone is co-owned by Coolmore, while Highland Falls is a Godolphin homebred. Tapit Trice is co-owned by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway; Pope’s homebred graded stakes winner Charge It recently retired to Gainesway for 2025.
One of the heaviest favorites on Breeders’ Cup Saturday could be Turf Sprint divisional leader Cogburn. He will stand at WinStar Farm in 2025.
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