After nearly a decade since Toast Of New York's near-miss at the Breeders' Cup Classic, trainer Jamie Osborne is excited about City Of Troy's chances of breaking a European drought in the prestigious dirt race. The last European victor on dirt was Andre Fabre’s Arcangues in 1993, with John Gosden’s Raven’s Pass adding to the legacy on a synthetic surface in 2008.
Osborne recalls the heartbreak of 2014, where Toast Of New York was edged out by Bayern, yet he believes that Aidan O’Brien's City Of Troy possesses the tools for success. Having recently set a record at York in the Juddmonte International, the son of Justify demonstrates impressive cruising speed, which Osborne emphasises as critical for the differing demands of racing on dirt.
While uncertainty about the surface tempers City Of Troy's odds, Osborne has faith in the exceptional training team and believes that Ryan Moore will execute a strategic race plan. A win would mark O’Brien’s first triumph in the $7 million feature, adding to his illustrious career.
Reflecting on his own journey with Toast Of New York, Osborne expresses both pride in their accomplishments and curious 'what ifs' from that near-perfect moment in 2014. Despite the disappointment, he cherishes the memories made and hopes City Of Troy can achieve a historic victory, bridging past nearly-wins into future success.