Crossword Genius

Team sent north in Hirosaki or Tokyo (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

troika

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'team' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Team of three ' mean 'troika' so perhaps 'team' could also mean 'troika')

'north in hirosaki or tokyo' is the wordplay.
'north' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up or 'northward').
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'akiort' can be found hidden inside 'hirosaki or tokyo'.
'akiort' reversed gives 'TROIKA'.

'sent' is the link.
This may not be correct. It may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for troika that I've seen before include "Russian vehicle pulled by three horses" , "Russian vehicle drawn by three horses abreast" , "3 hp vehicle" , "Russian three-horse carriage" , "Group of three" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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