There was widespread surprise at the failure of Aidan O’Brien’s colt to live up to his pre-race billing at Newmarket
Learning to live with regular disappointment is an important part of the process of racing and betting on horses but even so, City Of Troy’s dismal failure to justify odds-on favouritism for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket was a horribly deflating experience. On Saturday morning, we dared to hope that last year’s outstanding champion two-year-old might elevate himself into the ranks of the all-time greats this season. By Saturday evening, some were wondering if we will ever see him on a racecourse again.
It is always possible, of course, that Saturday’s flop was an early-season aberration, and City Of Troy will recapture his juvenile brilliance as the campaign develops.
