City Of Troy, the standout horse in racing, recently made headlines with a track record-breaking win at York. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the colt is set to bypass the Irish Champion Stakes in favour of the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, despite his impressive Irish debut at the Curragh last July.
While his absence from Leopardstown is a missed opportunity for local fans, his participation in the Breeders' Cup promises a thrilling challenge against top American competitors. O’Brien’s comment about "the lads" discussing the Breeders' Cup entry humorously refers to the influential figures behind City Of Troy, though it raises questions about the dynamics of decision-making within the team.
In racing administration news, recent stewarding decisions have sparked controversy. Jockey Callum Shepherd received an 18-day suspension for not riding out fully to secure a dead-heat finish at Kempton Park, a decision critics find excessive. In contrast, Windsor stewards took no action against James Doyle despite his early stop costing his mount a race, and Killarney's stewards controversially allowed Arctic Fly to retain his race despite failing to jump the second fence properly. These decisions highlight inconsistencies in stewarding and raise questions about race regulations and their enforcement.