California Chrome 'will give every ounce of his heart'

A Chrome-Buick partnership was spotted on the Newmarket gallops Thursday morning (Courtesy of @Ascot Twitter feed) In Newmarket on Thursday, California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) continued his preparations for Wednesday's Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot. The U.S. Horse of the Year worked on the watered gallop by the Rowley Mile Racecourse under big-race jockey William Buick. Alan Sherman, trainer Art Sherman's son and assistant, was pleased with the move. "I thought Chrome was really good today. William (Buick) was real happy and liked him." Last seen finishing second in the March 28 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), California Chrome was rerouted to England instead of returning to Southern California. The flashy chestnut has been hosted in Newmarket by trainer Rae Guest. "So far everything is going to plan," Alan Sherman added. "We will take him to Ascot early on the day. I thought of going the night before but I didn't want to change his surroundings the night before. We want to make sure he eats up.

"He will leave at 5 a.m. on Wednesday so we don't have to worry about the traffic."

Art Sherman also came in to watch the Thursday tune-up.

"I get goose bumps just watching this horse, and

wish I had him to ride when I was a jockey," the elder Sherman noted. "He is a push-button horse and just a

pleasure to be around.

"We are going to try our best in the Prince of Wales's S. It is very

competitive and we know how tough it is going to be. I am just hoping he can hit

the board.

"Frankie Dettori was happy with him (in a work) at Ascot last week and Chrome handled the

course well. It is going to be a great experience and I am looking forward to

it. I will be so delighted if he can run well in this race.

"It is going to be different and I am going into it with my eyes wide open. I am

hoping for the best. I are sure glad Rae has taken over the training from me

because it so different from the United States -- a horse paradise.

"Victor Espinoza, who has ridden California Chrome, said that we would be better

off with a local rider and I am happy with William Buick."

Also happy with the booking of Buick is

Steve Coburn, the 30 percent part owner of California Chrome, who attended the

Royal Ascot press conference held in Newmarket's historic Jockey Club Rooms.

"Buick is an American-made car and California Chrome is an

American-made horse, so hopefully things will work out," Coburn noted. "If this horse finishes

good, then it is good for us.

"We got here the day before yesterday and it has been nice. This Newmarket

area is a horsemen's paradise and we have been welcomed with open arms and

people have treated us great. I like it here as it seems what England was like

back in the day.

"Back home, my wife and I would go down and see California Chrome twice a

month. It is a little difficult, when you live in Nevada, to come and see a

horse half way around the world twice a month.

"So we had not seen him for 10 weeks and it was good seeing him. He is special

to us. All our horses are special to us. But this horse, being our mare's first

baby, watching him grow up and seeing what he has accomplished is not only our

horse but America's horse. The people have embraced him and he is special to a

lot of people.

"Every time this horse races you know that something can go wrong -- it is like

sending your child off to war and to see him again is a very joyful experience.

"Royal Ascot means to me lots of up and down hills and lots of green grass

-- I

can only say what I have seen on TV. I am looking forward to being there as it

is totally different to what we are used to. Dubai was different but it was a

flat racetrack.

"From what I understand, Royal Ascot is kind of like the Kentucky Derby

-- a lot

of glamour and a lot of hats. So I am looking forward to it -- something I can

cross off my bucket list because of a horse.

"The wife says get over it Steve, it is just for one day so I going without my

Stetson and boots. I was fitted for my top hat and tails yesterday, and I bought

a pair of shoes. I have not worn a pair of shoes since I was in the army in 1979

-- I have worn boots all my life. It is going to be different but I have to go

with the flow. It is going to be fun. Enjoy it while you can enjoy it as it may

not ever happen again. It is maybe a once in a lifetime shot.

"I will let the day go on and just be me -- I will say hi to people, sign

autographs if they want me to and if I meet The Queen I will be very courteous.

I met Sheikh Mohammed in Dubai and he is a pretty cool guy. He and his son are

both really nice people.

"We have met a lot of really neat people because of this horse and gone to lots

of new places. You just get giggly about it. How many other regular people get

to do stuff like this? Not too many. So we have been really blessed."

California Chrome won the first two legs of the American Triple Crown last year,

taking the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) in great style before finishing

a dead-heat fourth in the Belmont S. (G1).

"Last year, California Chrome got two out of

three and we were so hopeful the Triple Crown would be accomplished for

horse racing in America," Coburn said.

"It did not happen and this year it did and I could not be happier as it is a

shot in the arm for horseracing in America. The connections of American Pharoah

(Pioneerof the Nile)

are a good team and they deserve all the glory.

"California Chrome is in great hands here in Newmarket. Mr. Rae Guest has

taken very good care of him and Robbie (Mills), the exercise rider, has done a

tremendous job with the horse.

"California Chrome has put on muscle -- we watched him work this morning and he

seemed to be enjoying what he is doing.

"On his worst day, he still gives 100 percent and is a pleasure to watch. He

has never let me down. We have lots of people coming over from the United States

and some of them are already here.

"The people got behind the horse last year, we call them Chromies. They are a

tremendous bunch, being very supportive of a horse they love. We have a fan base

throughout the world and I understand The Queen is a Chromie.

"This horse has been quite a travel agent for us -- we have gone on

first trips to Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Dubai and now

England.

"How many people have bred horses and never had a horse like this. We are very

blessed to have this horse -- we got damn lucky. An $8,000 mare, even though

she is bred very well, to a $2,000 sire, and he is bred quite well, was what

started it. I knew it in my heart that this horse was going to do something big.

What he has done and the places he has taken us to have been amazing. Two years

ago if people said this would happen, I would said, 'yes, when I get there I

will believe it.' We are here so I believe.

"California Chrome is our mare's first foal and he has got three full siblings

behind him. She is our only mare. My wife and I are partners with Perry and

Denise Martin in the mare, Love The Chase, California Chrome, Hope's Love, his

first sister, and the yearling that we have not named yet. I have just helped

deliver his full brother on April 12 who is actually bigger than Chrome was at

six weeks. He has a big blaze face and two white stockinged feet and they are

both on the right side.

"This horse has taken us to a lot of places, we have a lot of different things

and met a lot of wonderful people. To me, that it is what it is all about -- the

journey, the people, the horse and the love the people have for this horse. It

is hard to describe.

"When we got back from Kentucky (after California Chrome won last year's

Kentucky Derby) there were boxes of letter on our front porch from people. Some

of the letters just had California Chrome, Nevada, USA, on them. We have

actually answered every single one and sent a little thank you note. They came

from Trinidad, South Africa and all over the world -- it is amazing.

"These people love the horse and have embraced him because of two regular guys

who did it. We didn't have a boatload of money -- we stuck to our game plan and it

has paid off in quite a tremendous way.

"California Chrome was very tired after running in the Dubai World Cup, and we were hoping to get him back to

the States and prepare him for races leading up to the Breeders' Cup. And my

partner, Perry Martin, decided to send him here to England, where he has been in

good hands and is training well. California Chrome will give every ounce of his

heart when he runs -- he always does.

"It is an experience of a lifetime. Without this horse I would not have been

here or gone to Dubai.

"This is probably going to be the toughest race of his life. Everything is new

to him -- the course is new, the running up hill and downhill is new, and so it

is going to be tough. He always tries his best -- he gives 100 percent of his

heart every time. If this horse come out of the race sound, I will be happy."

Coburn related how he got into horse ownership and breeding.

"My wife and I enjoyed going to the races and betting the horses. One year, she

bought me flying lessons for a Christmas present. I was doing the lessons and

told her one day I would like to buy an aeroplane after I get a license. She

said that is not to happen so a few days later I said I wanted to buy a

racehorse. She said we cannot afford a racehorse. I said yes we can because we

can buy a percentage of a horse and we did that through Blinkers On six years

ago."

And now, they're at Royal Ascot.

"It is a fairy tale come true," Coburn summed up. "This horse has been life changing for us, but our

lives haven't changed; we are still the same people. To see this horse grow up

and accomplish what he has is a dream come true."

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