Classic disappointment for City Of Troy at Del Mar

Coolmore took the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic but Sierra Leone, not City Of Troy, landed the spoils as Aidan O'Brien's quest for a fairytale success ended in disappointment at Del Mar.

Most of the pre-race preparation revolved around whether O'Brien's all-conquering son of Triple Crown hero Justify could translate his exceptional turf form to dirt and O'Brien's pursuit of an elusive victory in the $7 million -Showcase could end.

However, Ryan Moore realized his fate very early on as the Derby winner slowly moved away and almost immediately had a lot of work to do.

With City of Troy reeling, USA's main hope Fierceness appeared to have the race at his mercy when he made the turn to the finish in the company of Bob Baffert's Newgate, only for the Kentucky Derby runner-up Chad Brown to eat picking up the dirt and slipping with every step. He gained an unassailable lead as the wire came within reach.

Japanese competitor Forever Young was third, Newgate, ridden by Frankie Dettori, was fourth.

O'Brien said: “He was left behind at the start where he lost three lengths and we hadn't prepared him to break away quickly enough. We thought we had, but we hadn't. In the end he made up ground (finished eighth), but Ryan had no chance.

“He inspired us as a horse that could do well in the Classic and it was so sporting of the boys to start him on that.”

“When you come back that far on a dirt surface, there’s nothing you can do about it. I should have let him come out quicker, Ryan didn't really have a chance that way. I have to speed it up a bit, don't I.” I prepared her a little better. We will be learning all the time. Hopefully we will try harder next year.

As well as the Derby, City Of Troy also won the Eclipse and Juddmonte International that year, adding to his Dewhurst victory as a juvenile.

He is now aiming for a stallion career and O'Brien added: “The boys were never afraid to push the limits. It was a great privilege to train him. It's been an incredible experience for all of us and we're looking forward to having his babies now.”

It was Brown's 19th Breeders' Cup victory, just one behind O'Brien, and his first in the Classic.

He said: “To narrowly lose a Kentucky Derby – for him to come out and show so much and have been out since January, he's a remarkable horse in terms of health and spirit. He is a good horse that is cooperative. “It makes your job easy.”

“For him to have that moment after seeing what happened at the Derby and at the Travers more than makes up for it all.”

He continued: “To finally do it (win the classic). We didn't have many runners and only tried the classic. You never know when you'll be up here again because this is the toughest race in the world.” .

“Fierceness is a great horse, but our horse has never shown it. Our horse is absolutely consistent, it’s hard for me to see that he’s not the best three-year-old.”