City of Troy was made the 5-2 morning-line favourite in a full field of 14 for the US$7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar.

The Ireland-bred horse will break from the No 3 post under Ryan Moore in his first start on dirt after making his reputation on grass. He will try to give Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien his first victory in the Classic after two runner-up showings.

Fierceness was made the 3-1 second choice at Monday’s post position draw. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the colt will break from the No 9 post under John Velazquez. Fierceness notched wins in the Jim Dandy and Travers at Saratoga last summer.

Forever Young from Japan, third in the Kentucky Derby, drew the No 1 post. He overcame that post in winning the Japan Dirt Classic near Tokyo recently. He’ll be ridden by Ryusei Saki and was listed at 6-1.

The Classic field in post position order with odds: 1, Forever Young, 6-1; 2, Highland Falls, 20-1; 3, City of Troy, 5-2; 4, Mixto, 30-1; 5, Senor Buscador, 30-1; 6, Derma Sotogake, 20-1; 7, Ushba Tesoro, 12-1; 8, Pyrenees, 12-1; 9, Fierceness, 3-1; 10, Tapit Trice, 30-1; 11, Sierra Leone, 12-1; 12, Arthur’s Ride, 15-1; 13, Newgate, 20-1; 14, Next, 8-1.

A record five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America – will be represented by 80 horses, besting the old mark of 60 foreign horses in 2023.

The more than US$34 million, 14-race world championships will be Friday and Saturday at the seaside track north of San Diego. Del Mar is hosting for a third time in the event’s 41-year history.