Aiden O Brien has had 17 runners in that race over the years, including far better horses such as Galileo and never won it. You were brave to back it. I wouldn't have done for what I mentioned. Plus I can get behind any Aiden O Brien failure. A guy who in a race with 7 runners would supplement 5 of them and when one wins we have to hear the sickening pundit praises when it's expected.
It seemed to me there were three factors contributing to City Of Troy's disappointing performance. Firstly, some of his momentum was lost coming out of the stalls as he appeared to jink very slightly to his left. This caused his overall exit to be slower than his rivals, leading to him not obtaining an advantageous early position, and his soon being shuffled towards the back of the pack. Second, I don't think he picked up at any stage of the race, even when Ryan asked him to make a bit of ground from the back. I tend to the view that his natural acceleration was compromised by the dirt surface. With hindsight, it would be an exceptional horse that was equally as effective on turf as on dirt? Third, looking at the limited impression COT made, and his finishing position against demonstrably weaker rivals (excluding the first three) I'm also inclined to think he simply didn't run to his best last night. Horses are not machines! I think that with these three factors against him, COT had an impossible task. Backing City Of Troy last night was basically a gamble as to whether he would act on dirt. Relevant to that prospect was the fact that his sire was a US Triple Crown winner. Also, the fact that he was comfortably the best horse in Europe. Alas, they all have to demonstrate their ability and be primed to run to their best. Sadly that was not the case last night. None of which detracts from the genius of Aidan O'Brien, who is now the joint winning most trainer in Breeders' Cup history, and the greatest European trainer of all time - in my view!
Something isn't quite right in the yard,I have been thinking this for a few months now,his horses are not at their best the moment. But he is still the best trainer I have ever seen.
I didn't fancy it as soon as I saw how deep the dirt was. The loose stuff was actually over the top of his hooves as he was going down to the post.
