City Of Troy draws clear of galloping companions at Southwell

Aidan O'Brien's charge will be bidding to give his trainer a first winner in the American showpiece and was joined in the workout by stablemates Congo River, Democracy, Master Of The Hunt and Edwardian.

Although City Of Troy made much of the running when winning last month’s Juddmonte International at York in a record time, it was notable more waiting tactics were adopted in this thorough workout, with Ryan Moore settling him at the rear of the quintet while Congo River set a sound gallop out in front.

As Congo River and Democracy began to falter, City Of Troy moved ominously alongside before the home turn before being pushed clear by Moore, powering through the line to finish in splendid isolation.

A large crowd had gathered at the track to see the Derby winner.

O’Brien said: “It’s a pleasure and privilege for us to come (to Southwell) and we’re so grateful to everybody for making this day happen and making it such a success.

“We’re so grateful to everyone for providing an atmosphere, the track was beautiful and all the facilities, so we feel very privileged.

“He’s a unique horse, we always thought he was, and we’ve tried to do our best for him to show that he’s something different.

“We’ve tried to prepare him for a (Breeders’ Cup) Classic, we’ve never won it and know how tough it is. When he came along we felt that he was the horse that could make it happen. There’s never any guarantee with anything, but we felt if we looked under every stone that he’d have a good chance.

“The lads slowed up the surface today, which was brilliant, and made it a bit closer to dirt. It was tough and was never going to be over impressive to look at I suppose, but we were very happy and Ryan was very happy.

“There was an even pace and he stretched out well, so hopefully he’ll come out of it and we’ll look forward to the Breeders’ Cup with him now.”

He went on: “We’ve had them (American stalls) for a long time now. We were going to America and horses weren’t breaking very well, they were losing two or three lengths at the stalls, which was making it very difficult, so the lads went over and got American stalls and it was brilliant.

“The lads loaded them up perfect and City Of Troy jumped on the bell and was very quick. We knew the other four were going to be forced a bit stronger early because we didn’t want him to be in front, but at the same time Ryan said he was going to go forward because when he goes to America he’ll go forward.

“It all worked out perfect, we think. The trip, the day away, but I think the big thing was the track and the surface – it’s fast and left-handed and flat and the surface was more demanding than anything we could get other than grass.

“We’ve ticked all the boxes we think we should have ticked, that doesn’t mean you’ll get success, but at least if you fail that way you’ve failed doing your best, so we’ll try.”

On City Of Troy’s schedule from now until his trip to America, O’Brien added: “He’ll have a day off tomorrow and then he’ll start riding out again and his momentum will build from there.

“He’ll work once or twice a week, depending on how he is, and I think the plan is that he’ll go to America six, seven or eight days before.

“He’ll canter on the dirt for three or four days, he’ll probably do some paddock work and some stalls work and that will be it really.

“A day in a racehorse’s lifetime is very long and he has a lot of days to get through, so we’ll try to mark down the days. Hopefully he’ll come back and be fine tomorrow first and on we go after that.

“We think he’s like Giant’s Causeway, but he’s quicker and Giant’s Causeway went close to winning the Classic (second to Tiznow in 2000).

“This horse has a little more zest than Giant’s Causeway and has a long stride. He’s dour like him and his stride doesn’t shorten it lengthens, he’s tactically fairly quick, so he has a lot of those similarities, but we think he has a little bit more class.

“Justify is an incredible horse, like something we’ve never seen. He’s made like a big quarter horse and was still able to get a mile and a half, so that’s very rare.

“He’s a Triple Crown winner and we thought we’d never be lucky enough to get our hands on a stallion like that again. It’s so exciting for us, as horses that he sires will be able to run on the dirt and the grass and City Of Troy should improve on dirt, so it will be very exciting.”

Moore said: “He achieved what the objective was, and it’s about six weeks now (to Del Mar).

“I’ve never won it (Breeders’ Cup Classic), but he’s an unusual horse and he showed how good he is at York. If he can transfer that level of ability to the dirt, then you’d like to think he’d be in the mix.”

And earlier on Friday, Timeform confirmed City Of Troy is clear on their ratings for the Del Mar Grade One.

His current master rating is 130p which leaves him three pounds clear of top US-trained challenger Fierceness (127), who won the Travers Stakes at Saratoga last month.

Second and third place finishers from the Kentucky Derby, Sierra Leone and the Japanese-trained Forever Young, are both rated eight pounds below City Of Troy on 122.

However, City Of Troy is rated inferior to a clutch of former stablemates who had unsuccessful tilts at the Classic, including Rip Van Winkle (134), Galileo (133), Henrythenavigator (131) and So You Think (131).

O’Brien’s previous best finish came with his first ever Classic runner, when Giant’s Causeway finished a neck second to Tiznow at Churchill Downs in 2000, and incidentally he held the same rating of 130 heading into the race as City Of Troy.

Still, City Of Troy does also hold a Timeform ‘p’ next to his rating, which indicates that further improvement is highly likely from the colt.

On pedigree, being by US Triple Crown winner Justify, City Of Troy has the profile to take well to dirt and with the suspicion that the home challenge is weaker than in recent renewals, this could represent Coolmore’s best chance in years of finally achieving their Breeders’ Cup Classic dream.

Timeform handicapper Jake Price said: “With the home team lacking an outstanding runner in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, this could be the golden opportunity Aidan O’Brien has been looking for to gain a first success in America’s premier all-age dirt race with City Of Troy.

"Beaten just once from seven starts, his Timeform rating of 130p puts him ahead of his expected rivals for the race, headed by Travers Stakes winner Fierceness who is rated 127.

"Whilst we won’t know how City of Troy will handle this very different test, there are reasons to be confident on that score. He’s by US Triple Crown winner Justify, who’s already making waves at stud including siring the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last year, he has proven battling qualities and can make the running – similar tactics will lessen the negative effect of ‘kick back’ on the dirt. The short straight at Del Mar will also prove an advantage should he be able to employ that running style once again."

Timeform ratings for selected Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders:

• 130p CITY OF TROY
• 127 Fierceness
• 122 Forever Young
• 122 Sierra Leone
• 120 Highland Falls

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