CITY OF TROY will have a gallop at Southwell next month as he prepares for a crack at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Aidan O’Brien’s star three-year-old was an impressive winner of the ‘race of the season’ in the Juddmonte International at York last week.
His trainer and owners have always wanted to win the Classic, which is one of the most prestigious and richest races in the world.
But he will be taking on the best dirt horses in America at Del Mar in early November, and no European horse has ever won the Classic on dirt in the 40-year history of the Breeders’ Cup.
O’Brien reckons, though, that City Of Troy, who’s dad is the US super sire Justify, is the horse they have been waiting for.
He spoke about a potential warm-up gallop on the all-weather at Southwell, as he did in the early 2000’s when preparing the likes of Galileo and Giant’s Causeway for a crack at the Classic.
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And he will head back to the Nottinghamshire course on September 20, and the gallop is set to be open to the public.
Chris Armstrong, representing O’Brien at Navan, said: “It’s been confirmed this morning that City Of Troy will go to Southwell on September 20 for a racecourse gallop.
“We’re delighted that Southwell have been able to accommodate the request and Aidan and all the team are delighted that it will fit in nicely to his programme.
“It will be four weeks after York and will give him five weeks before he leaves for the Breeders’ Cup.
“He will work with a group of horses over a distance of about a mile from American stalls with the bell ringing and it should leave him right for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
City Of Troy is currently a general 3-1 favourite for the Classic on November 2, with top American horse Fierceness 6-1.
Armstrong continued: “The finer details such as timings have yet to be confirmed, but we have spoken with Southwell and Aidan and all the team are more than happy to open the doors to everyone and all racing fans and the media can watch the piece of work.
“It will be an experience for everybody and a bit like a normal raceday.
“It will be a new track to him and a new surface which will be good for him.
“He will fly over in the morning, have a rest in the stables like he normally does before a race, work in the afternoon and then fly home in the evening.
“Everything fits into his schedule beautifully and it’s something we are looking forward to.”
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