Following remarkable triumphs in the Epsom Derby, Coral Eclipse and Juddmonte International Stakes in 2024, Irish superstar colt City Of Troy is vying to give Aidan O'Brien his first success in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
O'Brien declared that City Of Troy was the best horse he's ever trained and the three-year-old has justified his all-conquering trainers' faith with a barnstorming year.
City Of Troy runs in the dark blue silks of owners Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith – the powerful Coolmore operation or, as they are so often known, 'The Lads', that back the operation at Ballydoyle.
Coolmore Stud, based in Fethard, County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, is generally acknowledged to be the world's biggest, and best, thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation and they've accounted for some of the greatest horses in the history of racing amongst their past performers.
City Of Troy is a son of Coolmore's stallion Justify, who became the 13th American Triple Crown winner in 2018.
City Of Troy is trained by the great Aidan O'Brien, the maestro of Ballydoyle. The Irishman continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility in terms of worldwide success in Flat racing.
He has won 48 Classics in Britain alone and bagged his 100th European Classic via Auguste Rodin in the 2023 Irish Derby.
In 2017 he set a new world record of 26 Group/Grade 1 wins in a calendar year when Saxon Warrior landed the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.
City Of Troy is a three-year-old colt, now engaged in his Classic campaign.
City Of Troy has an official rating of 129 in Britain.
City Of Troy ran three times as a juvenile, winning all of them. He debuted at the Curragh over 7f in July 2023 and justified favouritism at 6/4 under Ryan Moore.
From there, it was onwards to Newmarket for the bet365 Superlative Stakes where he bludgeoned eight rivals in a 6½-length success in that Group 2.
He signed off with success in the Dewhurst back at Newmarket, his maiden Group 1, as he was crowned the champion two-year-old.
In May 2024, he went off 4/6fav in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but after racing on the pace early on, he folded tamely and was beaten more than 16-lengths, finishing ninth of 11 runners in the first Classic of the season in Britain.
Scepticism grew over City Of Troy's ability but he responded in emphatic fashion by romping to victory in the Epsom Derby in June. Success in the Eclipse at Sandown followed in July and City Of Troy ticked off another Group 1 by reigning supreme in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
City Of Troy has bagged £2,383,614 for connections with six wins in his seven races, of which £850,000 was collected following his Epsom Derby victory.
All eyes are now on the Breeders' Cup Classic, the one race that has evaded O'Brien's illustrious trophy cabinet.
Excitement is building on both sides of the Atlantic as City Of Troy prepares to contest the $7,000,000 event at Del Mar and become the first European winner of the Classic on dirt since Arcangues triumphed at Santa Anita in 1993.
A trial run at Southwell went smoothly, O'Brien said: "He will do his own thing, he won't go with the crowd. He's a very independent thinker and will make his own mind up about things. That's the way he's always been.
"If he was in the wild, he'd be an alpha male. He's a natural born leader."
City Of Troy is 7/4 to cap off a monumental year with glory in the Breeders' Cup Classic.