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California Chrome on course for first Dubai World Cup on Meydan dirt California Chrome on course for first Dubai World Cup on Meydan dirt
(about 3 hours later)
If you build it, they will come. It is a simple principle, and one that has worked quite well for Dubai as a whole, but it failed significantly when its ruler Sheikh Mohammed built Meydan racecourse five years ago. American trainers and owners, by and large, decided to stay at home instead, and it is difficult to pitch a race as the Dubai World Cup when the world’s biggest racing industry does not want to play the game.If you build it, they will come. It is a simple principle, and one that has worked quite well for Dubai as a whole, but it failed significantly when its ruler Sheikh Mohammed built Meydan racecourse five years ago. American trainers and owners, by and large, decided to stay at home instead, and it is difficult to pitch a race as the Dubai World Cup when the world’s biggest racing industry does not want to play the game.
So Dubai’s ruler had another go. Out went the synthetic Tapeta surface that seemed to be the main deterrent for the Americans, and in came a version of the dirt that they know so well. This year’s Dubai World Cup is the 20th, but it feels like a relaunch for the entire Meydan project. So far at least, the omens are good.So Dubai’s ruler had another go. Out went the synthetic Tapeta surface that seemed to be the main deterrent for the Americans, and in came a version of the dirt that they know so well. This year’s Dubai World Cup is the 20th, but it feels like a relaunch for the entire Meydan project. So far at least, the omens are good.
The right horses always seem to come along at the right time for the World Cup. It launched in 1996 with the victory of Cigar, who extended his remarkable winning streak to 14 in the first running of the world’s most valuable race. Dubai Millennium bolted home in the World Cup in 2000, a race he was named - in fact, renamed - to win. And now, in year one of Meydan on dirt, it has California Chrome, the one horse in a nine-runner field with undisputed star quality. The right horses always seem to come along at the right time for the World Cup. It launched in 1996 with the victory of Cigar, who extended his remarkable winning streak to 14 in the first running of the world’s most valuable race. Dubai Millennium bolted home in the World Cup in 2000, a race he was named – in fact, renamed – to win. And now, in year one of Meydan on dirt, it has California Chrome, the one horse in a nine-runner field with undisputed star quality.
California Chrome is not a win machine in the manner of Cigar. He won the Kentucky Derby last season, and then the Preakness Stakes, but was only fourth when attempting to complete the Triple Crown a few weeks later. He came up a little short in a memorable Breeders’ Cup Classic last year too, edged out by Bayern and Toast Of New York.California Chrome is not a win machine in the manner of Cigar. He won the Kentucky Derby last season, and then the Preakness Stakes, but was only fourth when attempting to complete the Triple Crown a few weeks later. He came up a little short in a memorable Breeders’ Cup Classic last year too, edged out by Bayern and Toast Of New York.
By then, however, California Chrome’s status as the most popular horse in American racing was already secure. This is a horse with definite presence, a star who looks and acts the part, but it is his background and connections that complete the picture.By then, however, California Chrome’s status as the most popular horse in American racing was already secure. This is a horse with definite presence, a star who looks and acts the part, but it is his background and connections that complete the picture.
Art Sherman, California Chrome’s 78-year-old trainer, rode work on Swaps, one of the great Kentucky Derby winners, in the 1950s but never dreamed he would train a Derby winner himself until California Chrome came along. And who would ever have believed that a horse bred from an $8,000 mare using a $2,500 stallion could go to Churchill Downs and win the Run For The Roses?Art Sherman, California Chrome’s 78-year-old trainer, rode work on Swaps, one of the great Kentucky Derby winners, in the 1950s but never dreamed he would train a Derby winner himself until California Chrome came along. And who would ever have believed that a horse bred from an $8,000 mare using a $2,500 stallion could go to Churchill Downs and win the Run For The Roses?
Steve Coburn, one of California Chrome’s two owner-breeders, is a media magnet too. His reaction to the colt’s defeat in the Belmont was infamously sour, but that now seems to have been forgotten as the stetson-wearing Coburn anticipates the next chapter in the story.Steve Coburn, one of California Chrome’s two owner-breeders, is a media magnet too. His reaction to the colt’s defeat in the Belmont was infamously sour, but that now seems to have been forgotten as the stetson-wearing Coburn anticipates the next chapter in the story.
“I look at it this way, he lost the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic by less than two lengths, and that’s pretty amazing for any horse,” Coburn said this week. “This horse just loves to run, he loves his job, which is good.“I look at it this way, he lost the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic by less than two lengths, and that’s pretty amazing for any horse,” Coburn said this week. “This horse just loves to run, he loves his job, which is good.
“That’s 99.9% of the whole ball game right there, that the horse loves what they’re doing. I don’t think it the surface makes a difference to him, he likes them all. “That’s 99.9% of the whole ball game right there, that the horse loves what they’re doing. I don’t think it [the surface] makes a difference to him, he likes them all.
“He’s very relaxed and calm and he looks fantastic. We believe he’s sitting on a very big race, but some of the horses in the race, we don’t know anything about. This is a race that’s open for any horse to win, and if we get outrun, we get outrun.”“He’s very relaxed and calm and he looks fantastic. We believe he’s sitting on a very big race, but some of the horses in the race, we don’t know anything about. This is a race that’s open for any horse to win, and if we get outrun, we get outrun.”
A return to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be staged this year at Keeneland in Kentucky, may be the long-term aim for California Chrome, whose popularity will also be a major asset when he eventually moves off the track and into the covering sheds. For now, though, Coburn is just enjoying the ride.A return to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be staged this year at Keeneland in Kentucky, may be the long-term aim for California Chrome, whose popularity will also be a major asset when he eventually moves off the track and into the covering sheds. For now, though, Coburn is just enjoying the ride.
“We’re going one race and one place at a time,” he said. “If I could predict the future, I’d be a bazillionaire, but I can’t do that so it’s one race, one place at a time and go from there. Each race is an individual deal.“We’re going one race and one place at a time,” he said. “If I could predict the future, I’d be a bazillionaire, but I can’t do that so it’s one race, one place at a time and go from there. Each race is an individual deal.
“He is our rock star and we don’t want to hurt him. We paid $8,000 for the mare and about $2,000 for the sire and that’s a pretty good investment for what we’ve got back. A lot of people don’t have any credence for California-breds because that’s on the other side of the States from Kentucky, but we’ve had a lot of people off to buy this horse from us. We haven’t even discussed that.“He is our rock star and we don’t want to hurt him. We paid $8,000 for the mare and about $2,000 for the sire and that’s a pretty good investment for what we’ve got back. A lot of people don’t have any credence for California-breds because that’s on the other side of the States from Kentucky, but we’ve had a lot of people off to buy this horse from us. We haven’t even discussed that.
“This has been a journey of a lifetime, an incredible journey. There’s not many people who can say those lines, it a fairytale come true and we’re just going to have to see how it goes from here.”“This has been a journey of a lifetime, an incredible journey. There’s not many people who can say those lines, it a fairytale come true and we’re just going to have to see how it goes from here.”
California Chrome is the top-rated horse in the World Cup and a worthy favourite for the feature event at Meydan on Saturday, but whether he is a betting proposition at around 6-4 is another question. Timeform put him just 1lb ahead of Epiphaneia, the Japan Cup winner, whose ability to act on the track needs to be taken on trust, and 3lb ahead of the second American challenger Lea, who will definitely go on the surface and has scope for improvement after half a dozen runs on dirt.California Chrome is the top-rated horse in the World Cup and a worthy favourite for the feature event at Meydan on Saturday, but whether he is a betting proposition at around 6-4 is another question. Timeform put him just 1lb ahead of Epiphaneia, the Japan Cup winner, whose ability to act on the track needs to be taken on trust, and 3lb ahead of the second American challenger Lea, who will definitely go on the surface and has scope for improvement after half a dozen runs on dirt.
And there is also Hokko Tarumae (5.00), the best dirt runner in Japan, who finished last of 16 in the 2014 World Cup but arrives here on the back of three straight wins, two in Group One company. He was far from being the only horse that patently failed to act on the Tapeta last year, as the surface had turned into a sticky mess by the time it was finally ripped up. Back on dirt, he should be a leading contender, yet it seems that last year’s disappointment has not been forgotten as Hokko Tarumae is priced up at 12-1. As an each-way chance against the favourite, he is the best-value bet on the card.And there is also Hokko Tarumae (5.00), the best dirt runner in Japan, who finished last of 16 in the 2014 World Cup but arrives here on the back of three straight wins, two in Group One company. He was far from being the only horse that patently failed to act on the Tapeta last year, as the surface had turned into a sticky mess by the time it was finally ripped up. Back on dirt, he should be a leading contender, yet it seems that last year’s disappointment has not been forgotten as Hokko Tarumae is priced up at 12-1. As an each-way chance against the favourite, he is the best-value bet on the card.
The Grey Gatsby, who won the French Derby and then beat Australia, the Derby winner, in the Irish Champion Stakes last season, makes his four-year-old debut in the Dubai Turf but may not be sharp enough first time up to beat the improving Cladocera (3.40), whose turn of foot in two recent victories has been exceptional.The Grey Gatsby, who won the French Derby and then beat Australia, the Derby winner, in the Irish Champion Stakes last season, makes his four-year-old debut in the Dubai Turf but may not be sharp enough first time up to beat the improving Cladocera (3.40), whose turn of foot in two recent victories has been exceptional.
Harp Star finished sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe under an ininspiring ride by Yuga Kawada and the booking of Ryan Moore could make all the difference in the Sheema Classic. Secret Circle (3.05), the runner-up in last season’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, should take the Golden Shaheen, while Mubtaahij (1.55) and Peniaphobia (2.30) also have strong chances earlier on the card. Harp Star finished sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe under an uninspiring ride by Yuga Kawada and the booking of Ryan Moore could make all the difference in the Sheema Classic. Secret Circle (3.05), the runner-up in last season’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, should take the Golden Shaheen, while Mubtaahij (1.55) and Peniaphobia (2.30) also have strong chances earlier on the card.