American racing fraternity eagerly awaiting Classic siege of Troy

John Sadler: ‘It’s extremely exciting and it will add a lot to the event at Del Mar.’

Flightline’s trainer John Sadler believes City Of Troy could become a generational great if transferring his exemplary turf form to dirt at the Breeders’ Cup.

Some of America’s most famous racing names are eagerly awaiting the stateside appearance of Aidan O’Brien’s Classic contender, including Californian great Sadler, who has twice got his hands on the dirt feature.

The 68-year-old famously broke his own duck at the end-of-year world championships when Accelerate saw off a field including UK contenders Thunder Snow and Roaring Lion at Churchill Downs in 2018.

Four years later, it was the turn of superstar colt Flightline to bring the curtain down on his flawless career when the Breeders’ Cup was held at Keeneland.

Not only was Flightline’s imperious performance memorable from that historic Lexington occasion in 2022, but also the clamour from all in attendance to get a glimpse of the son of Tapit in the paddock before striding out on track to dazzle the world.

Flavien Prat with Flightline after the Breeders' Cup Classic
Flavien Prat with Flightline after the Breeders’ Cup Classic (PA)

One of those eager to witness Flightline in the flesh was O’Brien, and Sadler feels the sentiment will be replicated when the Ballydoyle raider arrives at Del Mar for his Classic tilt.

“Oh, I think we will be there to see him and everyone is excited to see the Classic and it is going to be a very interesting race,” said Sadler.

“It’s extremely exciting and it will add a lot to the event at Del Mar – and City Of Troy is obviously one of the top horses in the world.

“Even over here, we’ve been paying attention to the videos and we watched him when they took him to the synthetic track (Southwell) for his workout. It’s not an easy ask to win the Classic and I think it is very sporting of them to attempt it.

“It’s tricky to say how he will do and turf to dirt is very hard. The fact he is by Justify, I like that. The Japanese horses are also good and it is going to be a truly international race.”

Flightline’s eight-and-a-quarter-length Classic success is not only the greatest winning distance in the history of the race but ensured the unbeaten bay would go down in the annals of racing as a modern great.

John Sadler and connections of Flightline at the Longines awards in early 2023
John Sadler and connections of Flightline at the Longines awards in early 2023 (Molly Hunter/PA)

Classic success would see City Of Troy join Flightline in the upper echelons of racing folklore, but Sadler is certain there would only be one winner in a fantasy land where the two locked horns.

“Well, I know what would have happened,” quipped Sadler. “Flightline was a generational horse here and with City Of Troy, he also has the chance to stamp himself as a generational horse if he is to win at the Breeders’ Cup.

“We know he’s a great horse and we know what the people in Europe think of him over there. We have only seen videos of him over here, but we know he’s a good horse and it’s going to be a great race.”

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is another relishing this year’s Classic and states City Of Troy will be representing not just O’Brien and Coolmore, but the whole of Ireland when he tackles the tight turns of Del Mar.

A winner of over 10,000 career races, the 58-year-old still regards saddling Curlin in 2007 and then Gun Runner at Del Mar 10 years later as the two greatest days of his long and distinguished career and feels only the very best version of City Of Troy will be good enough on November 2.

“I know the sense of pride and following that Curlin and Gun Runner had and how proud everybody was when they proved how good they were on that stage and when City Of Troy runs in the Classic, he will be carrying the hopes of a country,” said Asmussen.

“It’s been wonderful to watch the videos of City Of Troy’s workouts and to see the crowd he attracts, it’s what horse racing is all about – great horses with great opportunities. I will be very fortunate to be in the stands when the Classic is run, even without a participant this year.”

He added: “I believe his ability is brilliant and that is obvious. But odds are for what you have done previously and the race is for the day. Your previous races don’t count for you.

“I don’t believe his ‘B’ game wins it, he has to bring his ‘A’ game – that’s what wins it.”

One horse standing in City Of Troy’s way in Del Mar is Todd Pletcher’s Fierceness, with last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion cementing himself as America’s number one Classic contender by winning the Travers Stakes in the summer.

Fierceness is already a winner at the Breeders' Cup
Fierceness is already a winner at the Breeders’ Cup (PA)

Owned by New York businessman Mike Repole’s Repole Stable operation, connections are relishing putting their established dirt performer up against a horse they feel has it all to prove in his first outing on the surface.

“He’s obviously an impressive horse, but the big question has got to be how he will handle the dirt having never run on it,” said Ed Rosen, general manager of Repole Stables.

“I know they took him to Southwell and simulated a race for him, but that was on Tapeta and we think that is more like turf than dirt.

“There is no question about the quality of City Of Troy, but there has to be a question about the dirt. They have tried it numerous times and Giant’s Causeway has finished second, so it is possible, but definitely a question.”

Kenny McPeek is one of a select group of Americans to have won all three legs of the Triple Crown throughout his career and although the Classic has so far eluded him, he knows all the qualities needed to make a high-ranking dirt performer.

American Trainer Kenny McPeek
American Trainer Kenny McPeek (Chris Radburn/PA)

His own Breeders’ Cup hopes will be carried by Distaff candidate Thorpedo Anna at Del Mar, with his Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan skipping the Classic.

However, he will be a keen observer and feels City Of Troy has a mammoth task on his hands that will prove if he truly is his father’s son.

McPeek said: “I think it’s a tough challenge to take a horse who has accomplished what he has done on turf and shift him to the dirt and it will really tell us if he is a Justify or is he a Galileo – which one is he?

“This is what makes racing interesting and I admire them for having a shot at it. What’s the worst that can happen? If he doesn’t run well, he becomes a turf stallion and comes back to Europe, but if he won the Classic, he could even stand in America.

“I don’t know the horse that well and unfortunately I can’t train Aidan’s horses. But I have observed him and been impressed by him and all that he has achieved.”

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