California Chrome posted the most emphatic on-line check-in to Dubai seen in recent times when landing the G2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on his first start in nine months.
California Chrome posted the most emphatic on-line check-in to Dubai seen in recent times when landing the G2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on his first start in nine months.
It is exactly that length of time since the five-year-old finished a well-beaten second to Prince Bishop in the 2015 G1 Dubai World Cup. He travelled to the UK last June but pulled out of Royal Ascot at the 11th hour due to a setback.
Now, he is back on the Dubai World Cup trail again, already booked to fly to the Middle East on January 21. "I have to go home to pack my bags. We'll be in Dubai for three months," declared an elated Art Sherman, the horse's 78-year-old trainer.
There is something 'magic' about the comeback of a champion, no matter what the sport. In racing, the old saying 'they never come back' is frequently flagged up, but California Chrome is doing his best to knock down any such haunting remarks.
California Chrome comes from relatively humble beginnings. He is no blue blood. But he can gallop; relentlessly, still. His fractions in the San Pasqual were even throughout to record a time of 1min 43.1sec. Quite rightly, he is accorded the respect any Kentucky Derby winner earns with triumph in the famous 'Run For The Roses' at Churchill Downs. Additionally, he is an American Horse of the Year award recipient, which makes him special.
The records show he is also now the California-bred with most prizemoney in the history of the sport. In winning at the weekend, he reached US$6.44m, passing Tiznow.
As for the immediate future, Sherman plans to have California Chrome at racing pitch for Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, to be run over 2,000m on dirt at Meydan on March 5, a meeting often billed as 'Super Saturday.'
It will be the horse's final prep race before the US$10m Dubai World Cup on March 26. The switch to dirt at Meydan has certainly made decisions easy for connections of horses such as California Chrome, as well as Godolphin hopeful Frosted, the G1 Belmont Stakes runner-up trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.
Dubai World Cup night, with its record prizemoney, is unmissable, if you have the right horse.
It is worth noting the upbeat remarks of jockey Victor Espinoza about California Chrome following the San Pasqual. Even after a momentous year riding American Pharoah, his respect for such a racetrack warrior -- 'Chrome' is now 10 wins from 19 starts -- is very obvious.
Sherman was ebullient: "I think he'll have a big 2016, if I can keep him sound and happy."
Since last year, there has been an important change in ownership of California Chrome. Taylor Made Farm bought former owner Steve Coburn's 30% stake, so they join Perry Martin, who holds the remainder.
The countdown to Dubai World Cup night has started again....in earnest.
