California Chrome to work with Dettori aboard Saturday

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, is scheduled to have a workout at Newmarket Racecourse in England on Saturday under jockey Frankie Dettori in preparation for the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Art Sherman said on Wednesday.

There is a possibility that Dettori could ride California Chrome in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Sherman said he was “not 100 percent sure” whether regular rider Victor Espinoza or Dettori will ride California Chrome next month.

“We could go with someone who knows the course,” he said.

Sherman said he was “glad” that Dettori will be aboard California Chrome. “He can let us know how he does,” Sherman said.

Espinoza has ridden California Chrome since the autumn of 2013, guiding the popular colt to wins in last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Espinoza was aboard California Chrome for his most recent start, a second to Prince Bishop in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 28.

Following that race, California Chrome was sent to trainer Rae Guest’s stable at Newmarket, where he has been based in recent weeks. Sherman said Saturday’s workout will be the first major exercise for California Chrome since his arrival in England.

“He had a little blowout going three-eighths, but nothing serious,” Sherman said. “This will be more serious to find out how he measures up.”

California Chrome was a candidate for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at a mile on turf at Newbury Racecourse on May 16 until a decision was made that there was insufficient time to be ready. Sherman said at the time that he was concerned that California Chrome had lost weight since the Dubai World Cup, but he said pictures and videos sent by Guest indicate recent improvement.

“He’s doing better,” Sherman said. “He looks better to me. It looks like he’s starting to get back to himself. It’s kind of hard to not be there every day.”

Sherman said he plans to travel to England in June in advance of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

For the $803,250 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf, California Chrome is 12-1 in the future book with British bookmakers. Free Eagle, third in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October, is the current 4-1 favorite.

California Chrome races for breeders Steve Coburn and Perry Martin and has won 9 of 18 starts for $6,322,650.