California Chrome starts final push to Dubai World Cup

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome resumed training this week following his win in a $150,000 handicap at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Feb. 25 and is on schedule for the $10 million Dubai World Cup there on March 26.

Trainer Art Sherman said on Wednesday that California Chrome has regained most of the 10 pounds he lost from the 1 1/4-mile race and is showing enthusiasm in training.

Sherman traveled to Dubai last week for the race and is back in California, overseeing his stable at Los Alamitos. Art’s son and assistant, Alan, is in Dubai with California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year. California Chrome will have a light training schedule before the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race.

“I’ll let him dictate when he feels like he needs to breeze,” Art Sherman said. “He won’t do anything big. He should be dead fit from that race at a mile and a quarter. He seems like he’s strong. I’m anxious to see him again.”

Sherman plans to travel to Dubai a week before the Dubai World Cup, which is run at 1 1/4 miles. In 2015, California Chrome was second in the World Cup without a prep race in Dubai.

California Chrome races for Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farms and has won 11 of 20 starts for $6,352,650.