Even in a sport which thrives on optimism and uncertainty, there are few “what ifs?” to match the moment when an exceptional colt from last year’s juvenile crop canters to post for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. For months, fans and backers of the “winter favourite” for the Classic will have followed his progress from two to three via market moves, occasional “no news is good news” updates from the stable, and the online rumour-mill, but six months on from his last trip to the track, it is time for the talking to stop.
And on the bleak, windswept expanse of the Rowley Mile, there is, quite literally, nowhere to hide. So it is probably for the best that City Of Troy, the favourite for the first Classic of 2024 at Newmarket on Saturday, remains blissfully unaware of the weight of expectation on his back.
