California Chrome confirmed for Royal Ascot

California Chrome will now head straight from Dubai to England (Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club) Following his gallant second in Saturday’s Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), “America’s Horse” California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) will ship direct to the United Kingdom, possibly as early as next week, ahead of a tilt at the June 17 Prince of Wales’s S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot. The reigning Horse of the Year will be based at Rae Guest’s Newmarket stables as trainer Art Sherman already has connections within the yard. Sherman will travel over periodically and in advance to oversee the final preparations. “We are grateful for the opportunity to race at Royal Ascot and hopeful that California Chrome can put up a good show,” co-owner Perry Martin said. “We are looking forward to the experience.” Nick Smith, Ascot’s head of communications and international racing, was understandably delighted at the confirmation. “We’re obviously thrilled that this is coming to fruition,” Smith said. “I first met Art at the Breeders’ Cup last year and then again at Los Alamitos in February and it was a great pleasure to meet the owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn in Dubai, to discuss details.

“Amongst those details are that he might have a prep in the Lockinge
([Eng-G1] on May 16) at Newbury. We have been working with Andy Clifton of
Newbury on a joint promotion for some weeks. He will be entered for that race
tomorrow.

“To have another Kentucky Derby (G1) winner at Royal Ascot is exciting and he
could spearhead a strong international presence for the week.”

Sherman, however, is not as excited by the Ascot venture, and he expressed
his views on the Roger Stein radio show Sunday.

“(Martin) thinks the horse will do good because he’s won on the grass (in
last year’s Hollywood Derby [G1], but it was a different grass,” the trainer
said.

“They don’t realize the horses that are going to be involved, they go
counterclockwise, he’s got to learn to go the opposite way, and everything. It’s
going to
be rough on him, I think.

“I would have never done it myself. I would have gave the horse more time to
kind of unwind. He’s going to be a tired horse after this trip.”

Several other internationals are expected at the Royal meeting, as Smith
discussed.

Hong Kong superstar Able Friend (Shamardal) is a candidate for the Queen Anne
(Eng-G1), while compatriot Peniaphobia (Dandy Man) and Ameria’s Green Mask
(Mizzen Mast), second and third to Ireland’s Sole Power (Kyllachy) in Saturday’s
Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1), could renew rivalry with him in the King’s Stand
(Eng-G1). The Queen Anne and King’s Stand are
on opening day of the meeting, June 16.

“I had good conversations with John Moore (Able Friend) and Tony Cruz (Peniaphobia)
in Dubai — and Wesley Ward will probably run Green Mask in the King’s Stand too,
meaning we’d have the first three in the Al Quoz Sprint re-opposing in the
King’s Stand,” Smith said.

“Spielberg (Deep Impact) is in the mix for the Prince of Wales’s S. for
Japan, which now looks likely to be represented in the King George (VI and Queen
Elizabeth [Eng-G1]) in July with One and Only (Heart’s Cry), who finished third
in the Sheema (Classic [UAE-G1]) yesterday and could be suited by the stiffer
Ascot track.”

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com