- Fanfare surrounding City Of Troy continued in a racecourse gallop at Southwell
- Aidan O’Brien will hope excellent form will be on show at Breeders’ Cup Classic
Rare are the days when everyone walks off a racecourse beaming from ear-to-ear but here was one of those happy exceptions.
From the autograph hunters whose book were filled with signatures, the executives who hailed the decision to open their doors, and the trainer and jockey who were deeply satisfied with their afternoon’s work, the impact of City Of Troy fever could be seen all around Southwell.
This picturesque track usually stages run-of-the-mill racing but, yesterday, the world’s best racehorse floated across its all-weather surface as Aidan O’Brien, the master trainer, turned another screw to prepare City Of Troy for his shot at the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 2.
Usually racecourse gallops are clandestine affairs, the kind of things you only hear about after the event, but as soon as O’Brien revealed his intention to come over from Ireland there was a surge in interest: 1400 people registered to attend, one media request even arrived from Japan. If you had any doubt about racing’s ability to capture the imagination, here was resounding proof, again, that a good horse can be like the pied piper, drawing crowds along for the ride. When City Of Troy sauntered into the parade ring at 3.14pm, a hushed reverence greeted his arrival.
O’Brien, who had been stuck in traffic after landing at East Midlands airport, arrived half an hour later and it was another 15 minutes before the crucial gallop started. To make a comparison, this was like Pep Guardiola inviting crowds into watch Manchester City prepare for a Champions League final.
Supporters flocked to watch City of Troy in action ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Classic
Aidan O’Brien (centre) posed for pictures with punters as he looks towards a chance at racing immortality
With such a meticulous eye for detail, O’Brien brought four stablemates — Congo River, Democracy, Master Of The Hunt and Edwardian — to set the tempo. And also brought American stalls, complete with a bell that rings when the gates open. True, the challenge awaiting in Del Mar will be significantly more demanding but to see City Of Troy come clear for Ryan Moore up Southwell’s straight, his head low and stride long, was a rare sight, one that left the 720 patrons clapping in appreciation and admiration.
‘That is absolutely priceless for him,’ said O’Brien, who did not turn down a single request for an autograph or a picture, even when there were debriefs with representatives of Coolmore, the horse’s owners, to be had.
‘It was all lovely. I don’t think anyone could have done more. Everybody here was a big help to him. In a racehorse’s life, every day is a big one — and especially training for those big races, as really you have to train as if there is no tomorrow. If you don’t do that? You might come up short.’
If he does come up short in Del Mar, it won’t be for the lack of preparation, but the more you listen to O’Brien, the more you get the sense he believes City Of Troy is the one to bound into immortality and become the first Epsom Derby hero to cut through the dirt and take the Classic, too.
‘He came into the straight very balanced and when Ryan let him down, he was as straight as a gun barrel,’ O’Brien stated. ‘Me, watching here, that’s the best I have ever seen him with Ryan. We couldn’t be happier.’
