O’Brien takes aim at the Classics again with “City of Troy”

Released: 31.10.2024 – 21:26Changed: 31.10.2024 – 21:24

3 min.

O’Brien, winner of 18 Breeders’ Cup races, has saddled 17 previous runners in the Classic and finished second only twice.

City of Troy has established himself as the world’s best turf horse, recovering from poor performances in the 2000 Guineas to record wins in the Derby, Eclipse at Sandown and the York International Stakes this year.

The three-year-old colt, sired by US Triple Crown winner Justify, has the pedigree to thrive in the dirt. But a lack of familiarity could be a weakness in a field that also features the brilliant if inconsistent Fierceness and Japanese rival Forever Young.

“I have no illusions about what might or might not happen, if you know what I mean,” O’Brien said after City of Troy hit the third post to become 5-2 favorites in match 1 1/4. mile, $7 million Classic.

“Obviously we’ve never won it and we’ve been beaten by some great horses…hopefully we’ve prepared it properly but we’ll find out later.”

The Classic is a two-day, 14-race program at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on the California coast north of San Diego.

Firseness, trained by Todd Pletcher, will look to add a classic to the Breeders Cup juvenile he won last year at Santa Anita and end on a strong note a year that included a disappointment in the Kentucky Derby.

Fierceness is 3-1 from the ninth post under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who won the 2020 Classic aboard Authentic.

Forever Young, a Saudi Arabian and UAE Derby winner, had his only career upset with a agonizing third-place finish in a three-way photo finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who saddled two winners when the Breeders’ Cup was last held at Del Mar in 2021, was optimistic about his horse’s chances after “perfect preparation.”

“This is the opposite of what happened earlier this year when he went to Saudi Arabia and then to Dubai before the Kentucky Derby,” Yahagi said. “I think it was too much, but the way he has settled here in Del Mar is very encouraging.”

Forever Young is one of three Japanese horses in the Classic, along with the Hidetaka Otonashi-trained Derma Sotogake and Noboru Takagi’s Ushba Tesoro.

There are 19 Japanese entries in the 14 Cup races, up from a record eight last year at Santa Anita.

In a departure from the schedule, the Classic will be the middle race of Saturday’s nine races rather than the final, with a post time of 14:41 (21:41 GMT).

Rebel romance is back

It will be preceded by a 1 1/2-mile, $5 million race where trainer Charlie Appleby will field 2022 winner Rebel’s Romance, who could become the first horse to win the race twice but not in consecutive years.

The six-year-old gelding returned after a year’s absence with four wins from five starts this year – three of those wins coming in Group One stakes.

As always, the Turf is full of talent from all over the world. O’Brien saddles Luxembourg and the filly Wingspan while Brian Meehan seeks a third win on the turf with improving Prix Dollar winner Jayarebe.

Trainer John Gosden has competition in Emily Upjohn, who ultimately opted for the turf over the Filly & Mare Turf because he believes the longer course of 1 1/2 miles would suit her better.

Japan will have two representatives – Shahryar and Rusham Park – in the fight for the first triumph on the turf.

In the $2 million turf race, Christopher Head hopes to continue the family tradition with the Ramatuelle filly taking on Appleby’s 2000 Guineas hero Outstanding Speech.

Head’s father, Freddie Head, scored two victories in the great Bowl and then trained the illustrious Goldikova to three straight victories from 2008-2010.

The event begins on Friday with five races for two-year-olds.

© 2024 AFP