City Of Troy became the 11th Derby winner to win the Coral-Eclipse in the same season on Saturday, but it was hard work for the 1/4 favourite.

With soft ground not playing to his strengths, City Of Troy had to work for his victory but ultimately was the comfortable one length winner from Al Riffa (11/1) with the same distance back to Ghostwriter (12/1) in third.

Successful trainer Aidan O’Brien, who was winning the Coral-Eclipse for a record extending eighth time, said: “We walked the course beforehand and it was soft, tough, deep ground.

“All fairness to the lads’ (owners John & Sue Magnier, Michael & Doreen Tabor and Derek and Gay Smith) – 15 years ago they would have taken the horse out but they enjoy their racing so much now and wanted to run him. It would have been easy to take him out and it was a long discussion before we ran.

“He is a beautiful, good ground horse and a real fast-ground mover so he has won today despite the ground. It was proper soft ground today, softer than when he won the Dewhurst last season.

“It was tough today and it was specialist ground. It didn’t really go according to plan but in the end I think he won pretty easily – Dylan (Browne McMonagle, rider of runner-up Al Riffa) said he thought he had him but he kept finding.

“I had it in my mind that we would run wide into the middle of the track before coming up the middle of the track but Ryan finished up going on the inside and clearly made the right decision.

“I imagine the lads will now look at the Juddmonte or Irish Champion Stakes before looking at America where he could finish up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – that is what he is bred to be. Everything about him is good ground or better.

“He was pitched in on unknown territory today. It’s always a tough watch but I’m delighted for everyone.”

Winning rider Ryan Moore told ITV Racing: “I thought he would win today but the going was slower than what he wants.

“I got it wrong by taking him up the middle and he wanted to go back to the fence.

“I never really got it out of him until I really had to and I think there was a lot more in there. Coming back now, it doesn’t feel like he has had a race.

“The ground was wrong for him but he still got the job done.

“He was the only Group 1 winner in the field. He wants nicer ground but the trip I wouldn’t be too worried about - 10 or 12 furlongs is fine.”

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of the runner-up Al Riffa, said: “I think we all thought for a moment he was going to make it interesting and he did.

“It was a fantastic run and the first time he has had a bit of juice in the ground since the National Stakes (in 2022).

“We’ll probably make the rest of the season all about the Arc, which will be his main target. He should enjoy the mile and a half as his family is all stamina. It looked like mile and a half will suit him on his run today.”

Clive Cox, trainer of third-placed Ghostwriter, said: “I am over the moon. It was a tremendous performance bar being beat and he has run with full credit. We are all very proud of him and he has tried very hard.

“We would appreciate slightly drier ground but I am not making any excuses as he has still run a very solid race.

“I think a mile and a quarter is a perfect for him and Richard (Kingscote) agrees. He is in the Juddmonte and that is a track (York) that I think he would enjoy.”