CITY Of Troy will be bookies’ biggest ante-post loser on an international race in TEN years if he bolts up on Saturday night – costing the industry millions.
This despite Aidan O’Brien’s stable star being a worrying drifter in the market ahead of his career-defining run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
ReutersThe awesome City Of Troy has been taking in his surroundings in Del Mar – ahead of delivering a potentially massive blow to the bookies on Saturday night[/caption]
The Derby, Juddmonte and Coral-Eclipse-winning superstar is out to as big as 7-4 with most firms as big rival Fierceness comes into 4-1 following market support.
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O’Brien’s week in Del Mar has got off to a horror start with Melbourne Cup fav Jan Brueghel being kicked out of the race and Filly & Mare Turf fancy Ylang Ylang also failing a vet test.
But despite ‘Aidan’s Army’ taking to the California track yesterday, the two-day ‘world championships’ is really all about one horse.
Anticipation has been at fever pitch since City Of Troy lit up Southwell a few weeks back with a public workout.
And his trainer has never minced his words when it comes to just how highly he regards this son of Justify.
Punters have been lapping it up too, slamming City Of Troy into singles, multiples and everything else in between.
Paddy Power’s Paul Binfield said there had been ‘unprecedented’ demand in the horse.
So much so that, should he give O’Brien a first win in the race, he would also be their biggest liability to pop in a decade.
He told the Racing Post: “It’s marvellous the race is being shown on ITV as the support we’ve seen for City Of Troy is unprecedented and he’ll be comfortably our biggest ante-post loser of any international race in the last ten years.
“We feel the weight of support and hype has driven him close to the bottom of the range for his possible SP.
“He could return around the 2-1 mark.”
While Coral’s David Stevens added: “City Of Troy’s Classic bid has really captured punters’ imagination and he’s been extremely popular in the context of ante-post betting.
“I don’t think another horse can compare in terms of international ante-post interest and he really is breaking new ground.”
William Hill’s Lee Phelps said a City Of Troy win would cost them millions.
He said: “Saturday night could be pivotal for us at William Hill as City Of Troy goes for Breeders’ Cup Classic glory.
“Aidan O’Brien’s star is already a huge loser for us ante-post, and if he goes in at the weekend, along with some other big European runners, we could be staring down a seven-figure loss.
“City Of Troy has gained tremendous popularity since the Juddmonte International.
“After his Guineas blowout he was a 33-1 shot for the Classic, but ever since we’ve laid him at various prices, and his current odds of 13-8 are still attracting significant attention from bettors.
“This level of ante-post support is rare for an international race. The last horse to attract such strong pre-race interest was Vauban in the Melbourne Cup last year, a race that nearly became a one-horse book.
“City Of Troy is drawing similar enthusiasm this year, with global interest turning him into a leading figure for the Classic.
“Market projections suggest that City Of Troy’s odds will likely stabilise at around 2-1 on Saturday night, though global market activity may influence his final starting price.
“Whatever his SP, we’ll be cheering home the US runners come Saturday night.”
City Of Troy looks to have an ideal draw in stall three – and O’Brien is happy with all the preparation so far.
He said: “I think the draw is a good one, you’d rather be inside than outside.
“The danger when you’re drawn in is if you’re not quick enough they might fall on top of you, because the races here are fierce and the American horses are so quick away.
“We’ve done everything we can do to prepare him for this race. When we were getting ready for the Derby we had to get him to settle and slow down.
“But at the back of our minds we’ve been thinking about this race and knowing we are going to have to rev him up again for this race because you can lose the race at the start if you’re not ready.”
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