Officials at Southwell are eagerly anticipating the arrival of City Of Troy for his pre-Breeders’ Cup Classic gallop this Friday.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt has built an impressive reputation throughout his career. After a single setback in the 2000 Guineas, he has since triumphed in a remarkable treble that includes the Derby, Eclipse, and Juddmonte International.
With a pedigree that suggests he’s destined for dirt, City Of Troy is out of the Group-winning Galileo mare Together Forever and is sired by American Triple Crown winner Justify.
He will head to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in early November, and the gallop at Southwell is designed to familiarize the world’s highest-rated turf horse with a synthetic surface before his first dirt race.
Over 1,500 spectators are expected to gather at the Nottinghamshire course to watch the workout at 3:45 PM. The track will have bars open and will utilise large screens to showcase off-course racing throughout the day.
“There’s a real sense of excitement; it feels almost like a race day,” said John Holliday, clerk of the course at Southwell. “We have a lot of staff on hand, and the American stalls are expected to arrive shortly. We’re anticipating over 1,500 visitors, possibly even more. The bars and Tote will be operational, and we’ll broadcast other races throughout the afternoon. The response has been incredible and has surpassed our expectations. Initially, we thought only a couple of hundred people would attend. It’s fantastic for us to feel a connection to him, and we’re thrilled to have played a small part in his career.”