John Oxx Backs City Of Troy for Breeders' Cup Classic Success

John Oxx, the legendary trainer of Sea The Stars, believes that this could be the year for Aidan O’Brien to conquer the Breeders’ Cup Classic with the highly regarded City Of Troy. O’Brien’s colt, who has already captured the Derby, Eclipse, and Juddmonte International in sensational fashion, is now being primed for a historic bid to become the first European-trained horse to win America’s most prestigious dirt race.

City Of Troy’s credentials are impressive, not least because he broke the track record set by Sea The Stars at York in the Juddmonte International. His pedigree also adds to the excitement, being a son of American Triple Crown winner Justify, which suggests he could adapt well to the dirt surface at Del Mar, where the Breeders' Cup will be held.

Oxx, whose own superstar Sea The Stars retired after winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2009, knows the challenges of balancing ambitions in Europe with the lure of the Breeders’ Cup. While Sea The Stars never made the trip to America, Oxx sees City Of Troy as an ideal candidate, especially given the lack of a standout horse in the U.S. this year.

“City Of Troy is half-dirt bred, and this could be the perfect year for Aidan and Coolmore to take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” said Oxx. “There’s no dominant three-year-old in America this year, and the older horses aren’t particularly strong either, which makes this an ideal opportunity.”

Oxx’s decision to retire Sea The Stars after his Arc victory in 2009, rather than pursue the Breeders’ Cup, was influenced by several factors, including the surface at Santa Anita, which was Polytrack at the time. However, with City Of Troy, Oxx sees a different scenario. “Justify is proving himself as a versatile stallion, and while City Of Troy’s dam, Together Forever, was a turf horse, the combination makes him an interesting prospect for the dirt.”

City Of Troy is currently the 7-2 favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with American challenger Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher, and Japan’s Forever Young, also in the mix. Oxx is particularly intrigued by how City Of Troy will fare against these international contenders. “It will be interesting to see how it goes, especially with the Coolmore team’s strong desire to show that their stallions can excel on both turf and dirt.”

O’Brien’s previous close calls in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, including Giant’s Causeway’s narrow defeat in 2000, underline how challenging the race can be for European horses. But with City Of Troy, Oxx believes the stars may finally align for O’Brien to make history. “He’s been an interesting horse to watch, and he’s certainly shown he’s a pretty good one. This year could be the year for Aidan to achieve something truly special.”

As the racing world eagerly anticipates the showdown at Del Mar, all eyes will be on City Of Troy, the colt with the pedigree, the form, and the potential to deliver a landmark victory for European racing.