Dubai World Cup: California Chrome is poster boy for this year’s American raid at Meydan

American horses have now loaded the bases with five of the 12 runners in the only $US10 million (Dh36.7m) race on the planet. And with such a strong challenge it is easy to see them achieving the Grand Slam, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

No expense was spared in getting American champion California Chrome back in shape for Dubai. Dubai Racing Club // Andrew Watkins

DUBAI // There has been a lag time, but the Americans now look poised to make it a perfect ten of Dubai World Cup wins at Meydan on Saturday.

Last year’s runner-up and third, California Chrome and Lea, were the only two World Cup challengers to make the journey 12 months ago after a dirt carpet was laid down to welcome the Americans back after the Tapeta years.

They have now loaded the bases with five of the 12 runners in the only $US10 million (Dh36.7m) race on the planet – they do not even have to convert the currency on their way home.

And with such a strong challenge it is easy to see them achieving the Grand Slam by hitting the home run.

California Chrome is the poster boy for the American raid but Godolphin’s Frosted looks the primary threat, having been trained to the minute by Kiaran McLaughlin who sent out Invasor to land the 2,000-metre race in 2007.

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Frosted, who will be ridden by William Buick, chased the short tail of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah all last season, finishing behind America’s darling four times in all.

Speaking at Meydan on the eve of the World Cup Victor Espinoza, the jockey of California Chome and American Pharoah, stopped short of saying the race was between the two horses, but fears Godolphin’s grey ghost the most.

“I hope California Chrome runs the way he looks,” Espinoza said. “As for Frosted, he always tries. And he is always there. He was like American Pharoah’s shadow, he was always following me around. He looks the one for us to beat in the race.”

The versatile Mshawish, the Qatari-owned runner who will be partnered by Frankie Dettori, is no also-ran, either, and at morning track work all week Keen Ice has looked the most physically powerful and destructive animal since King Kong went on the rampage. Put a ball of muscle like that in the hands of Ryan Moore and there could easily be an upset.

That leaves Hoppertunity, a Grade 1 winner trained by Bob Baffert, who has won the race twice with just five runners, as possibly the least likely winner of the US quintet.

This season is the first time since Curlin prepped successfully for the Dubai World Cup in 2008 that American horses have been based in Dubai ahead of the feature race.

California Chrome and Frosted have trained here for weeks and come in to Saturday night’s showpiece off facile warm up races during the Carnival. Local trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam showed earlier this season with American purchases such as Top Clearance and Market Rally that American form trumps all on dirt.

Photo gallery: Dubai World Cup runners California Chrome, Keen Ice and XY Jet train at Meydan Racecourse

Trainer Todd Pletcher was swayed to come with Mshawish by the results of last year’s World Cup night, and his viewpoint was crystallised during the Carnival.

“Any time you see horses like Secret Circle [last season’s American Dubai Golden Shaheen winner] and California Chrome come over here and do well it gives you confidence,” he said.

“Frosted and California Chrome have done well in their prep races here, which shows our form is doing well here.

“A truly-run race will help Mshawish get in to a rhythm, so I hope it unfolds that way” the seven-time Eclipse award winner added.

“Keen Ice is a horse that people need to be careful about dismissing because in a truly run race over this distance he can sit back and could be a real danger.”

During the Nad Al Sheba years the World Cup was regularly a face-off between Saeed bin Suroor and America. The Al Quoz handler nobly lost the battle 8-5, and the Americans added to their haul with the wildly talented Animal Kingdom on Meydan’s Tapeta surface in 2013.

It is time to brush up on the lyrics to the Star-Spangled banner.

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