On March 25th, the racing world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Troy—the horse who triumphed in the historic 200th running of the Epsom Derby in 1979. It was fitting that such a milestone edition of the race became a testament to the event's glory, as Troy turned the contest into a virtual procession. I hold unforgettable memories of this equine icon, whom I was fortunate enough to see racing during my schooldays in England.
An outstanding middle-distance runner, Troy delivered a series of scintillating performances in 1979 to set the British tracks ablaze. He towered head and shoulders above his contemporaries, epitomizing the perfect middle-distance thoroughbred. Legendary jockey Willie Carson places him among the three best horses he ever rode, and his trainer, Major Dick Hern, rated him the finest he had ever trained. This was high praise indeed, considering Hern also trained Brigadier Gerard, who was rated the second-best horse of the century by Timeform.
Troy was bred at the Ballymacoll Stud in Ireland in 1976 by Sir Arnold Weinstock and Sir Michael Sobell. His sire, Petingo, was a top-class miler who likely would have won the 2,000 Guineas nine times out of ten had he not run into the great Sir Ivor in 1968. Troy’s dam, La Milo, was sired by Hornbeam, a top-class stayer. Though La Milo herself never won, she was a prolific broodmare who also produced Admetus, the winner of the Washington, D.C. International, and Tully. Troy was bred for a perfect fusion of speed and stamina, a lineage that blessed him with the "long" gear of a champion. He did not rely on a short burst of speed, but rather a sustained, devastating run starting three to four furlongs from home.
As a two-year-old, the colt ran four times, recording two wins and two seconds. His victories came in the Plantation Maiden Stakes and the Lanson Champagne Stakes, while his most notable runner-up finish was in the Royal Lodge Stakes. As a three-year-old, Troy arrived at Epsom after winning the Predominate Stakes and securing a hard-fought victory over the Steve Cauthen-ridden Two of Diamonds in the Guardian Classic. Despite his form, he wasn't the sole focus of the betting public; the 2,000 Guineas winner Tap On Wood and the promising Ela-Mana-Mou were considered major threats.
The race unfolded at a hot pace with Lyphard's Wish leading the way. At Tattenham Corner, Carson and Troy appeared hopelessly trapped on the rails in seventh place. As they entered the straight, Dickens Hill struck the front and looked the likely winner. Then, Troy arrived on the outside like a character suddenly introduced into a novel to orchestrate a total shift in the plot. The great bay horse treated the field like a mower through daisies, moving from six lengths adrift to seven lengths clear in the final three furlongs. Troy recorded the largest winning margin since Manna in 1925, and it was arguably the most authoritative Derby win since Sea Bird in 1965.
Troy’s dominance continued throughout the summer of 1979. He followed his Epsom success by toying with the field in the Irish Derby at the Curragh, moving with the effortless grace of a Rolls Royce to win by four "long" lengths. In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he faced older horses for the first time. Despite a stiff challenge from the French runner Gay Mecene, Troy displayed the unwavering spirit of a warrior to ward off the challenge and win by a length and a half. This victory effectively crowned him the European Horse of the Year. He then became the first horse to complete the prestigious "Quadruple" by adding the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup to his tally.
Troy eventually attempted to become the first horse to add the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to that incredible seasonal quartet. Sadly, he finished a gallant third behind the filly Three Troikas. Many believe that had Troy maintained his mid-summer peak, he would have prevailed. Nevertheless, Timeform awarded him a massive rating of 137, placing him in the elite bracket of 1970s champions alongside Mill Reef, Nijinsky, and Alleged. In my estimation, Troy secured a permanent place among the all-time greats, sitting comfortably alongside legends like Grundy and Nashwan.
At stud, the great horse's influence was significant but tragically cut short. He produced five Group winners, including Pilsudski, a global titan who won the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Japan Cup, and Oath, the winner of the 1999 Epsom Derby. Troy died prematurely at the age of eight in 1984 due to a perforated intestine. His death was a somber end for a horse who had revitalized British and Irish breeding during an era dominated by American-bred champions. He remains, quite simply, a testament to the glory of the turf.
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*Freelance journalist
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