Todd Pletcher is relishing the chance to tackle Metropolis Of Troy together with his star colt Fierceness within the Breeders’ Cup Basic at Del Mar on Saturday.
Whereas Aidan O’Brien’s Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte Worldwide hero shall be tackling filth for the primary time in California, Fierceness is properly confirmed on the floor, having landed the Florida Derby and the Travers Stakes since his good show within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 12 months in the past.
Pletcher, who gained the Basic with Vino Rosso in 2019, insists he has “super respect” for Metropolis Of Troy, who’s in fact a son of the American Triple Crown hero Justify – however he additionally has loads of perception in his personal horse forward of Saturday’s showpiece.
Can Fierceness be the primary Juvenile winner to come back again the next yr and win the Basic? pic.twitter.com/MUFMNrkdoN
— Breeders’ Cup (@BreedersCup) October 28, 2024
“I don’t see the observe as being a difficulty. He likes Santa Anita, which isn’t dissimilar, and I really feel the primary activity we’ve got is to work out a superb journey for him,” the coach mentioned on Monday.
“It is a proficient group of horses however he’s travelled properly and settled into his environment as I hoped he would.
“He’s a really easy horse to work with, he’s very laid again, and whereas he can sometimes get fired up within the paddock, except for that he’s all the time been straightforward to cope with.
“Now we have super respect for Metropolis Of Troy in addition to for Aidan’s excessive regard for the horse. However we all know full properly that this shall be a special sort of race than he has ever run in, even taking into consideration that he’s by Justify.”
Todd Pletcher has excessive hopes for Fierceness (Neil Morrice/PA)
The one disappointing run of Fierceness’ season thus far got here within the Kentucky Derby on the primary Saturday in Might, the identical day as Metropolis Of Troy suffered the one defeat of his profession within the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Reflecting on his Kentucky Derby effort, Pletcher added: “He didn’t soar properly and he was large a lot of the approach. Nothing went in accordance to plan.”
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