The most exciting thing that happened in the world of racing and bloodstock on Friday was a track gallop at a racecourse called Southwell in the UK where Epsom Derby winner City of Troy stepped out in an exhibition race against four stablemate rivals as he prepares for a tilt at the Breeders Cup Classic on November 2.
Run on dirt over 2000m, the Group I Breeders’ Cup Classic is the one major race Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore have never won with several attempts made over the years with their best result a second with another star three year-old Giant’s Causeway in 2000.
The Southwell gallop on a track prepared to be as similar to dirt as possible was run over a mile with Ryan Moore on board City of Troy.
"He's like Giant's Causeway but quicker – and Giant's Causeway was very classy," Aidan O'Brien said after the gallop.
"This horse has a little more zest, he has a long stride and he's dour. His stride doesn't shorten, it lengthens and his pedigree with Justify is all dirt, so he should improve for going on to it. It was always going to be more gruelling than impressive as we wanted the surface prepared more like dirt."
Ryan Moore has ridden City of Troy in every one of his seven starts to date for six wins and he was more than happy.
