It would be fair to say that top Irish trainer Adian O’Brien has historically not been afraid to lavish praise on the leading performers in his stable.
The 54-year-old’s long-standing association with the Coolmore Stud has allowed him to oversee the careers of some of the finest equine talents to grace horse racing.
However, his comments about City Of Troy following his stunning victory in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October took things to another level.
O’Brien told numerous horse racing site operators that the horse was the best two-year-old he had ever trained – a view which had oddsmakers running for cover.
City Of Troy’s co-owner Michael Tabor went a step further, describing the horse as ‘our Frankel’. Since then, the hype train has been relentless.
The horse is scheduled to start his three-year-old campaign in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next month, before stepping up in trip for the Epsom Derby in June.
However, with connections keen to prove that City Of Troy is a world-beater, a tilt at a Grade 1 race on the dirt at Saratoga Springs in New York is next in line.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar will also be on the agenda later in the year as City of Troy bids to outstrip what Frankel achieved during his career.
Despite rattling off 14 consecutive victories for trainer Henry Cecil, the son of Galileo never ventured overseas. O’Brien is understandably keen to take a different approach.
Having trained Galileo, the Irishman is probably a little irked that the career of the horse rated as the best the world has ever seen was trained by someone else.
Taking that title off Cecil would crown a remarkable career for a man who has set endless records during his time in the training ranks.
Intriguingly, O’Brien recently claimed that he is not feeling any pressure ahead of what could be a landmark season for his stable and the Coolmore breeding operation.
‘Whatever will be will be’ is an admirable mantra to live by, although there is a suspicion that the Irishman fully understands the importance of City Of Troy’s exploits this season.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports Racing, O’Brien confirmed he was pleased with the horse’s progress over the winter and cannot wait to see him return to action.
“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,” O’Brien said.
“It will be exciting. When John (Magnier) and the lads are thinking like that, they are happy to push him out there and see what he can do. If it went well in the Guineas, we’re happy to step up to a mile and a half in the Derby and then come back to ten furlongs for the Travers on dirt.
“The thinking is to expose him. He’s by Justify, which makes Justify very exciting for us because he should be able to do dirt as easily as he does grass – that’s what makes him unique really. It’s going to be very exciting – interesting really.”
While rating horses from different eras can be an exercise in futility, it is inevitable that City Of Troy will be compared to Frankel.
Remaining unbeaten over a variety of distances during the next couple of seasons would unquestionably put O’Brien’s charge firmly in the conversation to be called a legend.
However, the crucial tie-breaker will be achieving the feat at home and abroad – something Frankel failed to do when he was strutting his stuff.
