Top trainer Aidan O’Brien has been bullish in California ahead of the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar, claiming City of Troy does not have an Achilles heel.
Winner of the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse at Sandown and the Juddmonte at York this season, the three-year-old has six wins from seven starts and his speed and stamina ensure he’s anything but a wooden horse when exiting the stalls.
Europe’s finest needs to show he can operate on dirt as well as turf when competing against some quality opposition in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Friday and Saturday’s star-studded meeting, which has a staggering $34million in prize money up for grabs equating to £26million over here.
Todd Pletcher’s Fierceness struck a blow for the Americans by winning last year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile and has triumphed in two good races on the bounce in preparation for this, while Japanese colt Forever Young has also has just the one loss the six times he’s raced at around the world – his only defeat was when third in the Kentucky Derby in May.
City of Troy’s breeding means he should act on the different surface and O’Brien has been pleased with his preparation, claiming no stone has been left unturned, but the biggest worry is the draw in three which means there’s no margin for error at the start.
With Ryan Moore on board, however, the 7/4 favourite with Paddy Power, Betfair, Betfred, bet365 and Sky Bet can make the necessary flying start and take the one mile two furlong race O’Brien has always dreamed of winning.
Charlie Appleby has equally high hopes for 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech, who also claimed the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the chestnut colt is 10/3 with William Hill, Betfair, Paddy Power and BetUK. But Carl Spackler, named after Bill Murray’s goofy golf groundsman in Caddyshack, is an each-way threat at 10/1 with Hills, Betfred and bet365.
Frankie Dettori is reunited with Emily Upjohn for the first time since the King George at Royal Ascot last summer and the Italian jockey’s knowledge of the tight Del Mar course means John and Thady Gosden’s star is preferred at 7/2 with multiple firms to Rebels Romance and Luxembourg in the Breeders’Cup Turf.
William Knight’s Frost At Dawn has run well on the dirt at Meydan and with Dettori in the saddle looks worth an each-way dabble at 33/1 in the Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares.
• Non-league Worthing are 14/5 with William Hill to cause an FA Cup first-round upset by winning at home to League Two Morecambe. Stick the National League South side in a Cup acca with Doncaster, Charlton and Exeter.
• Sunderland are five points clear at the top of the Championship table and should have no problem in taking maximum points from their trip to second-bottom QPR at 11/10 with Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill.
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