City Of Troy will head straight to the Classic

City Of Troy is set for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic following his commanding win in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday. Trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed the plan, stating, "It looks like City Of Troy will head straight to the Classic. We’re considering a racecourse gallop at either Southwell or Wolverhampton to get him used to a different surface before heading to America."

Coolmore partner Michael Tabor acknowledged the challenges of preparing the colt for the unfamiliar dirt surface, noting, "It’s a tough ask, and I saw he’s been quoted at 3-1, which is very short given the circumstances. We’ve come close before with Giant’s Causeway, and maybe this year we’ll get it done with City Of Troy."

City Of Troy, who has only been beaten once in seven career starts, delivered a career-best performance at York, adding to his earlier Derby and Coral-Eclipse victories. He led from start to finish, winning by a length and setting a new course record. Timeform awarded the son of Justify a rating of 130p for the performance, with the 'p' indicating further potential for improvement. This rating makes him the highest-rated horse in training, just ahead of runner-up Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), rated at 129p.

O’Brien, who described City Of Troy as the best horse he’s ever trained, still sees room for growth in Timeform’s rankings. The colt will need to surpass the likes of Hawk Wing (rated 136), Galileo (Ire), and Rip Van Winkle (Ire) (both rated 134) to join the ranks of O'Brien's top-rated horses.