California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
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Less than 24 hours after making his first start outside of the U.S., Horse of the Year California Chrome's connections have indicated his return stateside will be delayed.
The Sacramento Bee reports the dual classic winner will ship to England directly from Dubai, where he finished second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 28. Plans call for a start at Royal Ascot in June.
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"I've talked to (trainer) Art (Sherman) and I've decided we are going to Royal Ascot directly from here," co-owner Perry Martin said in an e-mail to the Bee. "We will train at Newmarket, where (undefeated European champion) Frankel trained. Then, we'll do our best at Royal Ascot."
California Chrome will probably target the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I) for 4-year-olds and older going 1 1/4 miles on turf June 17. The race annually attracts the top middle-distance horses in Europe. In last year's edition, The Fugue defeated 2013 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Magician and 2013 European Horse of the Year Treve.
Turf not an unfamiliar surface to California Chrome. In the final race of his 3-year-old campaign last year, the son of Lucky Pulpit won the 1 1/8-mile Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) Nov. 29 at Del Mar in his first and only grass race.