Following his gallant second in Saturday’s Dubai World Cup, “America’s Horse” California Chrome will ship direct to the UK, possibly as early as next week.
He will be based at Rae Guest’s Newmarket stables as trainer Art Sherman already has connections within the yard. Art will travel over periodically and in advance to oversee the final preparations.
Co-owner Perry Martin said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to race at Royal Ascot and hopeful that California Chrome can put up a good show. We are looking forward to the experience.”
Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot Racecourse, added: “We’re obviously thrilled that this is coming to fruition.
“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 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 winner at Royal Ascot is exciting and he could spearhead a strong international presence for the week.
“I had good conversations with John Moore (Able Friend – Queen Anne) and Tony Cruz (Peniaphobia – King’s Stand) 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 (won by Sole Power) re-opposing in the King’s Stand.
“Spielberg is in the mix for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for Japan, which now looks likely to be represented in the King George in July with One And Only, who finished third in the Sheema yesterday and could be suited by the stiffer Ascot track.”
The Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes takes place on Wednesday, June 17 over 10 furlongs on turf at Royal Ascot, while the Group One Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is run at Newbury over a mile on turf on Saturday, May 16. Both races are part of the British Champions Series.
