The build-up to City Of Troy’s Breeders’ Cup Classic bid has been fascinating to watch, with some confident he will take to the mud given his sire Justify was an American Triple Crown winner and others less so .

Justify has won all six starts, three at Santa Anita plus the Triple Crown races at Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park, all on dirt, although of course each surface is slightly different.

He’s made a fabulous start to his stallion career, with seven top-class winners, including two at last year’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, Hard To Justify in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Just FYI in the Juvenile Girls on dirt. The latter is one of the sire’s two elite-level winners on dirt – the other five have all done business on turf.

As for the distaff side of City Of Troy’s pedigree, he is out of Group 1 winner Fillies’ Mile Together Forever, by Galileo. His famous sire started second seed for the 2001 Classic at Belmont Park, but could only place sixth behind Tiznow on what was his swan song.

Together Forever, sister to Oaks heroine Forever Together and half-sister to another Group 1 winner, Lord Shanakill, has produced three all-weather winners, although a far cry from a Del Mar Grade 1.

Interestingly, it recently emerged that Coolmore’s American stallion, Ashford, wants to keep City Of Troy in his retirement. Presumably, they thought he could appeal to breeders of all stripes, including owners of land-oriented mares.

City Of Troy’s track record certainly gives him a chance to run well on Saturday, but it was ultimately decided that he would begin his stallion career in County Tipperary next year. We will soon know if the Coolmore hierarchy has made an indisputable decision.

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Coolmore reveals City Of Troy will retire to Ireland after Breeders’ Cup Classic swan song