California Chrome has final work for Prince of Wales’s Stakes

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year who has been based in England for the last two months, had his final workout at Newmarket Racecourse on Thursday for the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

California Chrome worked six furlongs on the Watered Gallop, a turf course adjacent to the Rowley Mile, which is the course used for races such as the 1000 and 2000 Guineas. California Chrome was ridden by William Buick, and worked in company with another horse for part of the workout, which was not timed. Buick has the mount in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

“He went really good,” trainer Art Sherman said in a phone interview. “We had another horse to go with him for a while and he finished strongly. The other horse couldn’t keep up. It was a straightaway and it was pretty cool.”

Sherman acknowledged Thursday that California Chrome has a tough assignment on Wednesday, and that the 4-year-old colt is lighter than he was when he was based in California.

“He’s not like I want him to be, holding his weight,” Sherman said. “He’s drawn up a little bit.”

Sherman traveled to England earlier this week. His son and assistant trainer, Alan Sherman, is also in England and oversaw California Chrome’s seven-furlong workout at Ascot on June 4. The $813,300 Prince of Wales’s Stakes is run at 1 1/4 miles on turf, and is the top race at the distance during the five-day Royal Ascot meeting, which runs from June 16-20.

As of Thursday, California Chrome was available at odds ranging from 8-1 to 12-1 with British bookmakers in the future book for the Prince of Wales’s. He was the fifth choice with most books behind Free Eagle (3-1), The Grey Gatsby and Ectot (both 5-1), and Western Hymn (8-1).

Owned by his breeders Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, California Chrome has not raced since finishing second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28. He has been based at trainer Rae Guest’s stable at Newmarket since the World Cup.

California Chrome’s last win came in his only start on turf, the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in November. California Chrome has won 9 of 18 starts and earned $6,322,650.