Aidan O’Brien has trained six winners of the prestigious G1 International Stakes at York. It will take a very good rival to prevent City Of Troy becoming his seventh.

Unbeaten last year and the winner of the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Eclipse Stakes this year, O’Brien regards the beautifully bred three-year-old as a uniquely talented individual.

O’Brien said, “We know he’s a horse like no other. He’s unique in his natural ability. He has unbelievable power, so strong when he gallops. He has speed and stamina but is very strong minded as well. That raw aggression is part of his make-up. We have to help him control that a little bit.”

City Of Troy has never raced on ground faster than good but is not expected to be inconvenienced by it and with Ryan Moore, one of the best jockeys in the world, in the saddle, the Derby winner has every chance of showing his best.

“After he won the Derby, Ryan said that City Of Troy was still showing his inexperience,” said O’Brien. “We have been happy with him on the run up to York. We’re excited and looking forward to it.”

Plenty of talented horses will be doing their best to topple the favourite, among them Ambiente Friendly, Calandagan and Alflaila. Ambiente Friendly finished a well held second to City Of Troy at Epsom and was then a respectable third when favourite for the G1 Irish Derby. In both races the James Fanshawe-trained colt travelled well and looked dangerous until the final stages. His pedigree gives cause for optimism that he will benefit from the drop down from 2400 to 2051 metres.

Fanshawe said, “In the Derby he came there looking really strong and was outstayed by the winner. At the Curragh, having been going really well, he didn't get home and the last furlong was a long way. I can’t say he doesn't stay a mile and a half, but he might be more effective over a mile and a quarter.”

In contrast, the French challenger, Calandagan, relished 2400 metres on fast ground when easily winning a Group 2 event at Royal Ascot in June and has to prove that the shorter distance will not be an obstacle.

Jockey Stephane Pasquier said, “It’s a difficult race but as he showed at Ascot, he’s a very good horse. He’s in good form and I hope he can do it at 2000 metres at York.”

York will definitely suit Alflaila, who has won three of the four times the five-year-old has run there. Trainer Owen Burrows said, “It will be nice to get him back to York. It’s a strong race but he does like it there. We know he has to improve a bit but I think he’s at his peak now.”

There are yet more trainers and jockeys who believe that City Of Troy is beatable, including the talented filly Bluestocking, who could have chosen the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday, for which she would have been favourite.