Giant Sequoia continues to climb the ladder Giant Sequoia was made to work hard but came out on top in the Group 2 Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. Beaten on debut, Aidan O'Brien's charge comfortably won a maiden on his second start and was fancied to enhance his reputation on this occasion. Slightly restless in the stalls beforehand, Wayne Lordan's mount raced in third early in the contest before being asked for his effort two furlongs out. Owned by Resolute Racing, Coolmore, and Westerberg, this 2/1 favourite mastered his stablemate Florida Bay (9/4) inside the final 100 yards and kept on well to score by half a length. Green Dreamer stayed on strongly from the rear to grab third on the line, beaten one and a quarter lengths. The victor is priced at 5/1 for the Dewhurst Stakes and is the 14/1 ante-post favourite for the 2027 Epsom Derby. Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said, "He's a lovely horse. I'm delighted with him. He's still a baby and he's still learning. He learned a lot today because there was a proper pace on. The other horse was leaning on top of him early so he did well to keep his position. He had to stay in there earlier than he wanted. I'd say he's a fair horse. I'd imagine he might come back for the National Stakes here." Additional reporting by John O’Riordan.
