'I probably treated him like too much of a god through the winter' - Aidan O'Brien reflects on City Of Troy Guineas blowout
Aidan O'Brien is kicking himself for treating City Of Troy like "too much of a god through the winter" as the master trainer feels freshness had a huge part to play in the colt's spectacularly underwhelming comeback in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.
Michael Tabor hailed City Of Troy "our Frankel" last autumn after a flawless juvenile campaign which ended with a dazzling Dewhurst display that led to him being crowned champion European two-year-old with an official rating of 125.
Saturday was supposed to be the first leg of an audacious Triple Crown attempt for which he was only 5-1 with BoyleSports, but that dream went up in smoke shortly after halfway on the Rowley Mile as the colt went down through the pack like a stone.
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inIreland
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- City Of Troy and Los Angeles to be joined by 50-1 outsider as Aidan O'Brien readies three-strong Derby team
- 'He's improving all the time' - Adrian Murray hopeful of big Derby run from 40-1 shot
- Confirmed runners and riders for the Irish 1,000 Guineas as star juvenile filly Opera Singer makes her comeback
- Sean Levey 'extremely hopeful' ahead of Rosallion's Irish 2,000 Guineas bid as Hannon star chases Curragh Classic
- 'We just haven't got the novices coming through' - more short-term pain expected for British jump racing after classifications