There are not
too many racehorses who can claim to have their very own band of
followers charting every move they make.
American
superstar California Chrome is one such horse. Winner of the Kentucky
Derby and Preakness Stakes in the States last
year, he was named 2014 US Horse of the Year after failing to land
the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes and valiantly going down
fighting in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.
So devout are
the followers of unlikely big-time success story California Chrome,
they have become known as 'Chromies'.
Royal Ascot is a
million miles removed from the Stetson-inhabited world of California
Chrome's part-owner Steve Coburn.
Arriving at
Newmarket to oversee his horse's final preparation for Ascot, Coburn
acknowledged he would be swapping the Stetson for the top hat and
tails in time for the Prince of Wales's Stakes on day two of five-day
extravaganza.
Trainer Art
Sherman touched down on British soil and, having
reviewed California Chrome's Bet fair odds for the 1m2f
Ascot contest, declared it would be "the toughest
race of his life".
Regularly a
short-priced favourite to win his races, California Chrome is set to
go off at double figures odds in a race containing Dermot Weld's Free
Eagle and Kevin Ryan's The Grey Gatsby.
Sherman
acknowledged that the Ascot turf is going to be a
different test to anything California Chrome has faced in his career
to date.
Having spent
over a month at Rae Guest's Newmarket yard in preparation for the
Prince of Wales, the four-year-old has had plenty time to settle in
and all reports have been positive.
Bred for a
paltry fee in the Unites States, California Chrome is the original
underdog story. Small-time owners hitting the big time and proving
that the small guys can also live out the big dreams.
Victory at Ascot
would cement the fairytale story of this American dream horse. Having
acquired William Buick to ride at Ascot, Coburn is convinced fate
is on his side.”