City of Troy, one of Europe’s top middle-distance runners, is set to travel to the Breeders’ Cup Championship this year, where he will face off against the world’s best dirt horses in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic.
His owners are opting for the most prestigious race of the two-day meeting, rather than the Breeders’ Cup Turf – a race the European horses have dominated in recent years. If successful, it would be a remarkable achievement, as he has yet to race on dirt.
Aidan O’Brien Believes the City Of Troy Is Special
Ever since he made a winning debut at the Curragh, Irish Champion Trainer Aidan O’Brien has spoken very highly of City Of Troy. In one interview, he said he believed the horse was different from any other he had trained before. High praise given O’Brien has won 44 British Classics.
City Of Troy is currently the +300 favorite in the racing odds for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Victory in that race would help him cement his place as one of the best horses in history.
The Irish-trained colt is likely to be one of the leading racing tips for the Breeders’ Cup this year, as he has enhanced his reputation further since his Derby success. He won the Group One Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, while more recently, he had a triumph at the highest level in the Juddmonte International at York.
The owners of City Of Troy had the option of running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and the Champion Stakes on British Champions Day. However, they have gone for an unconventional route, in the hope of winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic for the first time. He is set to have a racecourse workout on the all-weather surface at Southwell ahead of his trip to the United States.
Fierceness Expected to Be a Strong Contender
After securing three graded race winds in the United States this season, Fierceness is expected to be one of City of Troy’s strongest challengers. His latest success came in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. He prevailed by just a head in the lucrative contest for three-year-olds.
Fierceness began the season with a victory in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. He then won the Grade Two Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, before returning to the New York venue for his Travers Stakes win.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness has already tasted success at the Breeders’ Cup, having won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in 2023 by over six lengths.
Japan To Be Represented by Forever Young
No Japan-trained horse has won the Breeders’ Cup Classic yet, but everybody involved in Japanese racing will be hoping Forever Young can become the first to do so in 2024. The three-year-old won the Saudi Derby and UAE Derby earlier this year in what was a successful spell in the Middle East.
On his first visit to the United States, Forever Young finished a close third in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, just a short head behind winner Mystik Dan in one of the closest finishes in the history of the US Triple Crown event. With only five career starts so far, there’s plenty of potential for the Japanese colt to achieve even greater things. His performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be closely watched, as many believe he could be on the verge of a major breakthrough on the international stage.
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic takes place on November 2, marking the final race of the two-day meeting in California. With world-class competitors like City of Troy, Fierceness, and Forever Young, this year’s event promises to be one of the most exciting and competitive.
