City of Troy to net owners £400,000+ at Coral-Eclipse following rival’s exit

The Irish-trained colt City of Troy is now a massive favourite with virtually no major competition for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday after White Burch is ruled out.

An all-star showdown was in line for Sandown’s big Group 1 race on Saturday between the Epsom Derby winner City of Troy and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch.

Following a bad blood test for John Joseph Murphy’s colt, they have decided that White Birch will not travel to Sandown for the 1m2f Group 1, meaning City Of Troy’s next biggest rival, is now Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini, who’s as big as 8/1 with some bookmakers.

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Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old shockingly disappointed following a 203-day layoff on his maiden run this term in the 2000 Guineas not coming anywhere near a result before bouncing back with a two-and-three-quarter-length win in the Derby last month.

The offspring of Justify was 1/2 with bookmakers before the news broke but has now jumped into an ante post price of 2/5 following the defection of main rival White Birch. Ryan Moore will jockey the colt for this race as it looks to make two victories in big races. However, Coral’s David Stevens is obviously gutted with the news of the withdrawal.

“It’s obviously disappointing for all concerned that White Birch will not be lining up in Saturday’s big race, and he would have been the chief market rival to City Of Troy, but in his absence, the Derby winner is now 2/5 favourite to complete the big-race double,” Stephens explained.

It is the second time White Birch has suffered a setback due to his blood, as he was also ruled out of a Royal Ascot contest last month.

Dancing Gemini was beaten more than eight lengths by City Of Troy in the Derby but came close in a Longchamp Group 1 over a mile, so It’s not out of the question that Teal’s colt could get closer on this runout.

The traditional winning time for this ten-furlong race has been just over two minutes with first place in the blockbuster summer Group 1 earning a whopping £425,325. Meaning that City Of Troy could net his owners, John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, a staggering more than £200,000 a minute should he enter the winner’s enclosure.

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