The Breeders’ Cup has more often than not been a happy hunting ground for top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien. The master of Ballydoyle is one of the most successful trainers in the prestigious meeting’s rich history, with 18 victories, so it’s no wonder his Stateside raiders are regularly favoured in horse race betting online each year.   

O’Brien’s highlights at flat racing’s richest meeting include seven Breeders’ Cup Turfs, six Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turfs, the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, making major operator Coolmore one of the highest-earning owners in the meeting’s history with over $14 million in winnings.   

However, the biggest and best prize the meeting has to offer has eluded O’Brien to this point — the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Worth a whopping $6m, the one-mile and two-furlong contest is the crown jewel of the Breeders’ Cup and has become something of a holy grail for the Irish handler as it continues to slip from his grasp.   

With over 3,000 career wins worldwide, including almost 400 Group/Grade victories, it’s somewhat hard to fathom that O’Brien currently holds a record of 0-15 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic—with some of the best horses he has ever trained trying but failing to bring the silverware back to Ballydoyle for the first time.    

Giant’s Causeway, Galileo, Henrythenavigator, Declaration Of War, Gleneagles and Churchill, who won over 20 Group 1 races between them, are among the 15 horses who have been denied in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and City Of Troy is the horse who is going to try and do something his predecessors couldn’t this year.    

City Of Troy impressed as a juvenile in 2023, winning on all three of his starts — including in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst, both at Newmarket — to end the season as the highest-rated two-year-old in Europe. 

Anticipation was high for his seasonal reappearance back at flat racing’s HQ for the 2000 Guineas in May, but City Of Troy flattered to deceive when getting upset in the stalls, taking keen hold from the off and ultimately finishing toward the back of the 11-runner field after showing signs of fatigue in the closing stages. 

Many were subsequently sceptical about the three-year-old’s chances in the Epsom Derby the following month, but in a training masterclass from O’Brien, City Of Troy romped home by almost three lengths from Ambiente Friendly in a breathtaking performance—which led to O’Brien claiming the horse is his best Derby winner ever. 

That’s an impressive feat, considering City Of Troy was Ballydoyle’s 10th winner of the prestigious Epsom contest. However, he’s proving to be a generational talent with further top-level wins in the Sandown Eclipse and the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. 

All roads lead to Del Mar in California for the three-year-old next month, and he might not know it, but the weight of expectation is on his shoulders. 

A recent public workout with some stablemates on the all-weather at Southwell left those in attendance in awe and caused a meltdown on social media. 

His immense form and ability aren’t the only thing he has on his side ahead of this mammoth task. City Of Troy is American-bred, with his sire Justify winning five of his six starts on the dirt—including the Kentucky Derby. So, the ground at Del Mar shouldn’t pose too many concerns. 

All of these things combined have left many questioning whether City Of Troy can do what his 15 Ballydoyle predecessors couldn’t: win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He certainly can’t be ruled out. 

Rookie?

Before placing a bet at the races, it’s important to understand the different types of bets and how odds work. Informed betting can improve your chances of success by giving you a clearer picture of potential outcomes. Researching the horses, jockeys, and track conditions can help refine your betting strategy. This article will give you a few tips to get you going.