By Timeform — published 17th July 2023
Tony McFadden provides the Timeform ratings reaction from Newmarket's July meeting, where City of Troy produced a stunning performance.
The Superlative Stakes has some high-profile names on its roll of honour, including the likes of Dubawi, Olympic Glory and Native Trail, but no horse has put up a better performance in the race than
City of Troy (119p from 102P) who shot to the head of the 2000 Guineas betting with a hugely impressive six-and-half-length success.
City of Troy had looked like an exciting prospect when making a winning start at the Curragh last month for Aidan O'Brien, and he built significantly on that promise to post the best performance by a two-year-old this season.
Timeform's reporter noted that he "looked a two-year-old right out of the top drawer" at Newmarket and that he is "promising great things" after running to such a high level on only his second start. For context, since 2010 only six juveniles have earned a higher Timeform performance rating than City of Troy on their second start.
To further underline what a significant rating City of Troy achieved at Newmarket, it's worth noting that he is already close to the level typically required to be crowned champion juvenile - the median rating of Timeform's top two-year-old across the last ten years is 123.
There was also a significant juvenile performance at Chantilly at the weekend as
Ramatuelle (111p from 109) confirmed her status as France's highest-rated two-year-old, and the highest-rated filly in Europe, with a commanding four-length success in the Prix Robert Papin.
The only juvenile rated higher than Ramatuelle is City of Troy - Coventry winner River Tiber is also rated 111p - and she has run to a level that, particularly with her sex allowance taken into account, suggests she will take plenty of beating in the Prix Morny.
Ramatuelle has improved since being beaten by
Beauvatier (104p) in a conditions race at Saint-Cloud in May, though her exploits also reflect well on him and he's unbeaten after three starts having won a listed race at Deauville recently.
Sticking with the two-year-olds,
Jasour (105p from 83p) showed much-improved form to run out a decisive winner of the July Stakes on the opening day of Newmarket's three-day meeting. He was taking a marked step up in class in that Group 2 event though he took it in his stride, coming through with a strong late run to score by a couple of lengths with a bit in hand. He will have the Richmond Stakes next on his agenda.
Jasour is trained by Clive Cox whose two-year-olds have really hit their stride of late and Cox also on target with Sky Warrior, How's The Guvnor and Symbology in the past week.
There was a shock result in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on Friday as Star of Mystery was overturned by
Persian Dreamer (101 from 93), though the result probably owed more to the long odds-on favourite disappointing than the winner showing significant improvement on her Albany fourth.
Later on that card
Arabic Legend (91p) created a good impression when winning a seven-furlong maiden that is often a race to note. He showed his inexperience on debut, running green and hanging to his right, but he asserted well inside the final half-furlong and scored with a bit in hand, looking like a nice prospect capable of going on to better things. The runner-up,
Emperor's Star (87p), also shaped with plenty of encouragement despite being beaten at a short price and he too should come on for the experience.
