'Edgy' City Of Troy is all anybody can talk about out here, the tension is almost tangible

Tiznow or never. That seems to be the San Diego vibe on the hot favourite for the Breeders' Cup Classic, who is butting into every single conversation no matter where you are or what you are doing. 

"Here for City Of Troy, are you?" inquired an elderly man at the urinal next to mine in the toilets of the Double Tree by Hilton I'm staying in, just after I had checked in. "If Aidan O'Brien doesn't do it this year, he never will," he went on to add. 

The taxi driver who dropped me there didn't seem to have much English, but he was somehow able to say City Of Troy like a lecturer at Oxford. One pint of Pacifico was guzzled before bed and the three locals at the table next to me spent a good ten minutes arguing over whether he would do it or not. One couldn't believe he was morning line favourite, another couldn't believe he wasn't shorter. They agreed to disagree after a heated exchange.