Aidan O'Brien on City Of Troy: 'We don't think we could have done any more'

City Of Troy’s Del Mar date with destiny has finally arrived and on Saturday he will attempt to etch his name into the history books when lining up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

It is a race courted by all associated with the son of Justify since he proved unstoppable at two and the momentum has continued to build and build throughout his three-year-old season, now reaching a crescendo in California ahead of the final start of the colt’s somewhat brilliant career.

The Classic has proven something of a holy grail for trainer Aidan O’Brien and his quest to get his hands on the dirt feature has seen him saddle some of Ballydoyle’s best in the $7million contest.

Giant’s Causeway has come closest to breaking O’Brien’s Classic curse when agonisingly denied by Tiznow in 2000, while the likes of Galileo, Hawk Wing and George Washington have all tried and failed when tasked with conquering America’s richest purse.

O’Brien now prepares to saddle the horse he regards as the best to have ever graced his hallowed Tipperary training grounds, as the imperious Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International winner tackles the dirt surface on which his Triple Crown-winning sire made his name.

He said: "There’s so many things that are going to be new and different to him. Obviously, we prepared him in Europe and he has an awful lot to overcome.

"Ryan (Moore, jockey) is vastly experienced now. Dreams don’t always come true, but we’re very happy with where we are and at the moment, we don’t think we could have done any more.

"Winning the Classic is more difficult than any other achievement in sport."

In a truly international contest, Yoshito Yahagi will attempt to add the Classic to his decorated CV with leading Japanese contender Forever Young, the