- Icelanders head to the polls after government collapse
- England strike twice to have New Zealand in trouble in first Test
- Researchers analyse DNA from dung to save Laos elephants
- North Korea's Kim, Russian minister agree to boost military ties
- Brook's 171 gives England commanding 151-run lead over New Zealand
- Kamala's coda: What's next for defeated US VP Harris?
- Chiefs hold off Raiders to clinch NFL playoff berth
- Australia's Hazlewood out of 2nd India Test
- Trudeau in Florida to meet Trump as tariff threats loom
- Trudeau in Florida to meet Trump as tariff threats loom: media
- Hunter shines as Hawks top Cavs again
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- Swiss unveil Euro 2025 mascot Maddli
- Bears fire coach Eberflus after latest agonizing NFL defeat
- Rallies mark one month since Spain's catastrophic floods
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- 'We're messing up:' Uruguay icon Mujica on strongman rule in Latin America
- Liverpool dealt Konate injury blow
- Van Nistelrooy appointed Leicester manager
- Verstappen brought back to earth in Doha after F1 title party
- Global wine output to hit lowest level since 1961
- Norris boosts McLaren title hopes with sprint pole
- Romania recounts presidential ballots as parliamentary vote looms
- French skipper Dalin leads as Vendee Globe passes Cape of Good Hope
- Chelsea not in Premier League title race, says Maresca
- Brazil's Bolsonaro aims to ride Trump wave back to office: WSJ
- France requests transfer of death row convict held in Indonesia: minister
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- Iconic Uruguayan ex-leader hails country's swing left as 'farewell gift'
- Shared experiences make Murray 'perfect coach', says Djokovic
- Iran, Europeans to keep talking as tensions ratchet up
- Inflation-wary US consumers flock to 'Black Friday' deals
- France shows off restored Notre Dame after 'impossible' restoration
- South African bowlers strike after Sri Lanka set big target
- Namibia reopens polls after election chaos in ruling party test
- Georgia police arrest dozens in clashes with pro-EU protesters
- Leclerc on top for Ferrari in Qatar GP practice
- Amorim puts faith in Mount to turn around Man Utd career
- Guardiola will not 'run' from Man City rebuild
- Assisted dying campaigners, opponents rally at UK parliament
- Durable prop Healy set to carve name in Irish rugby history
- Macron unveils Notre Dame after 'impossible' restoration
- Traumatised Spain marks one month since catastrophic floods
- Attack-minded Spurs boss Postecoglou says: 'You'll miss me when I'm gone'
- Syria jihadists, allies shell major city Aleppo in shock offensive
- Macron inspects 'sublime' Notre Dame after reconstruction
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- Arrests, intimidation stoke fear in Pakistan's politics
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O'Brien takes aim at Classic again with City of Troy
City of Troy is the early favorite to give Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien a long-sought Breeders' Cup Classic victory on Saturday, but the turf superstar must make a seamless transition to the dirt track at Del Mar to triumph in a talent-laden field.
O'Brien, winner of 18 Breeders' Cup races, has saddled 17 previous runners in the Classic with only two runner-up finishes to show for it.
City of Troy has established himself as the world's top turf horse, rebounding from a poor showing at the 2000 Guineas with wins this year in the Derby, the Eclipse at Sandown and the International Stakes at York.
Sired by US Triple Crown winner Justify, the 3-year-old colt has the pedigree to excel on dirt. But a lack of familiarity could be a weakness in a field that also features the brilliant if inconsistent Fierceness and Japanese contender Forever Young.
"I'm under no illusion of what can happen and not happen, if you know what I mean," O'Brien said after City of Troy drew the third post and was made the early 5-2 favorite for the 1 1/4-mile, $7 million Classic.
"Obviously, we've never won it and we've got beaten with some great horses in it ... hopefully we have prepared him properly, but won't know that until later on."
The Classic highlights the two-day, 14-race programme at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on the California coast north of San Diego.
Fierceness, trained by Todd Pletcher, will try to add the Classic to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile he won last year at Santa Anita and finish on a strong note in a year that included disappointment at the Kentucky Derby.
Fierceness, priced at 3-1, will break from the ninth post under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who won the 2020 Classic aboard Authentic.
Forever Young, winner of the Saudi and UAE Derbys, was an agonizing third in the three-way photo finish at the Kentucky Derby in his lone career setback.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who saddled two winners when the Breeders' Cup was last held at Del Mar in 2021, was bullish on his horse's chances after "perfect preparation".
"It's opposite to what happened earlier in the year when he went to Saudi and then Dubai ahead of the Kentucky Derby," Yahagi said. "I think that was too much, but the way he has settled in here at Del Mar is very encouraging."
Forever Young is one of three Japanese horses in the Classic, along with the Hidetaka Otonashi-trained Derma Sotogake and Noboru Takagi's Ushba Tesoro.
In all there are 19 Japanese entrants across the Cup's 14 races, up from a record eight last year at Santa Anita.
In a twist to the schedule, the Classic will be the middle race of Saturday's nine-race slate rather than the finale, with a post-time of 14:41 (21:41 GMT).
- Rebel's Romance returns -
It will be preceded by the 1 1/2-mile, $5 million Turf, where trainer Charlie Appleby sends out 2022 winner Rebel's Romance in a position to become the first horse to win the race twice but not in consecutive years.
The 6-year-old gelding has returned from a year's absence with four wins in five starts this year -- three of those victories coming in group one stakes.
As usual the Turf is loaded with international talent. O'Brien saddles Luxembourg and filly Wingspan while Brian Meehan seeks a third Turf victory with improving Prix Dollar winner Jayarebe.
Trainer John Gosden has a contender in Emily Upjohn, finally opting for the Turf rather than the Filly & Mare Turf because he believes the longer 1 1/2-mile distance will suit her better.
Japan will have two representatives -- Shahryar and Rousham Park -- in a bid for a first Turf triumph.
In the $2 million Mile on the turf track, Christopher Head looks to carry on family tradition with filly Ramatuelle, who will take on Appleby's 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech.
Head's father, Freddy Head, rode the great Miesque to two Mile victories then trained the glorious Goldikova to three straight victories from 2008-2010.
The action kicks off on Friday with five races for 2-year-olds.
F.Cardoso--PC