A special show with City Of Troy will be in Southwell

Southwell is preparing to host a special event for fans of City Of Troy, as it has been confirmed that the public will have the opportunity to attend the Derby winner's racecourse gallop later this month.

Aidan O’Brien has long planned a visit to the Nottinghamshire track to give his Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful a chance to train on a synthetic surface ahead of the crucial race at Del Mar. 

City Of Troy, the impressive Juddmonte International Stakes victor, will have an away day at Southwell on September 20. O’Brien aims to simulate the conditions the Group One star will face in California. American starting stalls and a select team of stablemates will accompany City Of Troy as he prepares for his trans-Atlantic challenge. Ballydoyle has also expressed a willingness for the public to witness what might be the Justify colt’s final appearance on UK soil.

Mark Clayton, Southwell’s executive director, has announced that the racecourse will open its gates to the public. Attendees will need to register for a free ticket once the final details for the gallop are confirmed. Clayton stated, "On September 20, we will welcome everyone to watch City Of Troy. Although we don’t have the exact times yet, we will release a statement with all relevant information once they are set. The public can attend for free, but they will need to pre-register on our website. The registration will go live as soon as we finalize the arrangements. We look forward to hosting this exciting event."

This will not be the first time O’Brien has brought one of his top horses to Southwell. Notable names like Galileo and Giant’s Causeway have previously visited the track in preparation for their American campaigns. The track, now equipped with a Tapeta all-weather surface, continues to be a preferred venue for Breeders’ Cup preparations. Southwell is also hoping to attract Big Evs, Mick Appleby’s star sprinter, for a similar pre-Breeders’ Cup gallop.

Clayton added, "This might be the last chance we get to see City Of Troy in the UK before he attempts something special abroad. Having Aidan O’Brien at Southwell is a rare and unique experience, happening perhaps once a decade, so we aim to make the most of it. We’re also hopeful that Big Evs will return for a gallop before the Breeders' Cup, as he did last year. If Southwell becomes a regular choice for such events, it will certainly enhance the track’s profile. While our surface may not match American dirt exactly, our one-mile-two-furlong flat oval layout is excellent for simulating an American track."