Aidan O’Brien not feeling the pressure ahead of big campaign with City Of Troy who was billed the ‘next Frankel’

COOL Aidan O’Brien says he is not feeling the pressure with star horse City Of Troy.

The hugely exciting three-year-old went unbeaten last year and one of his owners, Michael Tabor, stated: “This is our Frankel.”

PA

City Of Troy is favourite for the Guineas and Derby[/caption]

It was a bold statement from one of the Coolmore ‘lads’, who has co-owned numerous Classic winners over the years with John Magnier and Derrick Smith.

But there is definitely something special about the son of Justify, who rounded off 2023 with an emphatic win in the Dewhurst Stakes.

He is already the hot 4-5 favourite for the 2000 Guineas on May 1, and he heads the betting for the Derby at Epsom, too.

And, with his top US pedigree, his owners and trainer are hoping he can end up winning a Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt, a race which is their Holy Grail.

The hype train left the station many months ago, but unflappable O’Brien is taking it all in his stride.

He said: “He always looked a bit different, every time we worked him really. Then he ran in his maiden and was amazing.

“At the moment the horses are having to work on bad ground, it’s very deep. Horses shouldn’t like that, but he is just powering through it.

“His work has always been special and a bit different. It all comes easily to him.

“I don’t feel pressure, all we can do is our best and whatever will be will be.”

The colt will spearhead a squad of Ballydoyle horses at Naas on Sunday for a post-racing gallop, alongside his another promising stablemate in Henry Longfellow.

And, all being well, he will head straight to the Guineas in six weeks’ time before embarking on an ambitious campaign.

O’Brien continued: “Him, Henry Longfellow, River Tiber, they’ll all go together at Naas over seven furlongs and we’ll have a little look and get together, talk to the lads. But the plan is to go straight to the Guineas.

“If that went well, then he could go for the Derby, and if that went well, there’s a chance he could go to Saratoga for a Grade 1 dirt race, the Travers, and that’s very possible if things go well, it will be interesting.

“Obviously he is by Justify, who is a very exciting sire, so you’d hope he would handle the dirt as easily as he handles the grass, which would make him very unique.

“He’s done very well over the winter. He’s a medium-sized horse to look at, but when you stand into him he’s much bigger than you think, which is the sign of a very well-proportioned horse with a great temperament. We’re excited.”

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