City Of Troy gets gate three in the Breeders' Cup Classic as draws are made for the entire Del Mar spectacular

City Of Troy has been drawn in stall three for his date with destiny in the Breeders' Cup Classic (9.41) at Del Mar on Saturday – a gate which has not housed the winner since Awesome Again in 1998.

That 26-year drought waiting for a win from stall three is something of an anomaly, however, as inside stalls have dominated recent runnings of the race. White Abarrio won from stall two last year, Flightline was successful from four in 2021 and Knicks Go did likewise in 2020 when it was last staged at Del Mar. 

Aidan O'Brien has not hidden his tactical plan for City Of Troy and expects Ryan Moore to let him roll, but should he miss the kick from gate three it could mean he will have to deal with plenty of kickback. 

City Of Troy warmed up for his Breeders' Cup Classic challenge with a spin on the all-weather at Southwell last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Travers Stakes winner Fierceness, the main danger to City Of Troy according to the market, has been drawn out in stall nine, while the Japanese contender Forever Young will come out of the inside stall in one. 

Fierceness has his first day at Del Mar on Monday and his trainer Todd Pletcher reported him to have settled in nicely to his new surroundings. 

He said: "Fierceness handled the ship really well. He settled in good yesterday afternoon, rested overnight, seems unfazed by all of it. Like he normally does when he gallops, he kind of had his ears pricked looking around, taking it all in, but seemed very relaxed and happy."

City Of Troy is expected to do his first gallop at Del Mar on Tuesday morning after passing quarantine. 

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The 2024 Breeders' Cup kicks off at Del Mar on Friday eveningCredit: Edward Whitaker

Emily Upjohn, who will be reunited with Frankie Dettori for the first time since last year's King George, has been drawn in stall two for the Breeders' Cup Turf (9.01). 

That is the same gate Enable came out of when John Gosden and Dettori teamed up to win the race in 2018. Jayarebe, the Hampton Court Stakes winner, has been drawn in stall five, and 2022 hero Rebel's Romance will come out of 11. 

Porta Fortuna and Notable Speech have been drawn next to each other in the Breeders' Cup Mile (11.45), with Donnacha O'Brien's superstar filly in seven and the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner drawn in six. 

The Bradsell camp will not be overly enamoured with drawing the outside stall in the Turf Sprint (7.41) in gate 12, while Mick Appleby will not be much happier as Big Evs has only fared marginally better in gate 11. 

Red-hot favourite Cogburn under Irad Ortiz Jr has been drawn in stall nine and Believing, who has hit the crossbar in so many top sprints this season, has been drawn on the inside in stall one. 

Also coming out of the inside stall will be the unbeaten Lake Victoria in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (11.05) on Friday. Stablemate Heavens Gate, who will be ridden by Wayne Lordan, has been drawn in eight. 

Breeders' Cup Classic draw 

1 Forever Young
2 Highland Falls
3 City Of Troy
4 Mixto
5 Senor Buscador
6 Derma Sotogake
7 Ushba Tesoro
8 Pyrenees
9 Fierceness
10 Tapid Trice
11 Sierra Leone
12 Arthur's Ride
13 Newgate
14 Next

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (9.41 Del Mar, Saturday)

bet365: 7-4 City Of Troy, 9-2 Fierceness, 11-2 Forever Young, 10 Sierra Leone, 12 Ushba Tesoro, 16 bar

Read more on the Breeders' Cup:

'If Aidan thinks he can do it, who's to say no?' - Wesley Ward and Kieren Fallon on City Of Troy's Breeders' Cup Classic chances 

Believing and Soprano 'worth their weight in gold' ahead of Breeders' Cup assignments 

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