Ascot braced for 'Chromies' invasion

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.”

No Royal Ascot for Star Mare, Snow Fairy

The globetrotting star, Snow Fairy, has lost her race against time to be fit for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and will not make the starting line-up for the showcase mile-and-a-quarter contest on June 19, the second day of the big meeting.

Well fancied for the Group 1 event, despite not having raced since September last year when beating the high-class Nathaniel in a memorable renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, Snow Fairy had been reported to be working well ahead of her intended seasonal reappearance.

Generally on offer at just 7/2 for a race that will likely include last year’s dual classic winner, Camelot, French star, Maxios, and the rapidly progressive Al Kazeem, the six-year-old has sustained a minor training setback, meaning that she won’t be fit enough to face the starter at Royal Ascot and will have to begin her fifth racing campaign later on this term.

A series of minor injuries have plagued the bargain basement buy (1800euros) in recent years, limiting her racecourse appearances to just two since November 2011.

She showed on both those occasions that she retains just about all her considerable ability, her victory over Nathaniel and her ‘win’ in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August 2011 showing that the winner of eight of her 21 career starts and more than £3.9 million in career prize money is still one of the best middle-distance racehorses on the planet.

Al Kazeem is now the general 7/4 favourite for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes following his win over Camelot in Ireland last time out, Aidan O’Brien’s star being available at 9/4 on www.betfair.com/sport to gain his revenge in what promises to be a great race.