California Chrome Is the Horse To Beat In $10 Million Dubai World Cup

California Chrome, winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and the 2014 Horse of the Year, has taken his show global and is the horse to beat in the world’s richest race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates Mar. 28.

The Southern California-based invader’s chore was made easier on Wednesday. At the draw for post positions, California Chrome drew stall nine on the far outside. The first U.S.-based Horse of the Year to ship for the race since Curlin in 2008, California Chrome loves running from outside rivals and, thanks to his post-position draw, should fall into an ideal trip.

In breaking from the widest post, California Chrome and his regular pilot, Victor Espinoza, can track the early speed or set the pace if desired. California Chrome is blessed with natural speed, and his best efforts have come when he sits up close early with a target to chase. That scenario should play out once again in the Dubai World Cup, giving California Chrome a strong advantage over his eight rivals.

All reports out of Dubai from veteran trainer Art Sherman indicate that California Chrome is coming up to the race in good order and another top, honest effort appears on tap. Judging by his gallops over the surface, California Chrome seems to have taken to the track and appears to be traveling in peak form ahead of Saturday’s test.

Being run over traditional dirt for the first time since 2010, the Dubai World Cup, as its name suggests, has attracted leading runners from around the globe. Numbered among California Chrome’s foes is Dubai-based African Story, the race’s defending champion.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s far-reaching Godolphin operation, African Story will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner in the event’s 20-year history and must be respected over his home course.The defending champ will start from post position No. 3.

Among Japan’s representatives in the race deserving of consideration is Epiphaneia. An accomplished runner on turf, Epiphaneia will make his dirt debut for trainer Katsuhiko Sumii, who saddled the 2011 Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa.

California Chrome’s main competition may come from stateside-based Lea, winner of the 2013 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Shipping to Dubai from the South Florida barn of his Hall-of-Fame trainer Bill Mott, Lea would provide his conditioner with an appropriate win. Mott saddled the legendary Cigar to a resounding victory in the race’s inaugural running in 1996.

The festive evening of racing has attracted plenty of top horses, but California Chrome is without a doubt the star of the program. With 80,000 fans likely to be in attendance at Meydan and millions more watching around the world, California Chrome will attempt to fend off all challengers to secure racing’s most lucrative prize, and in the process, secure his place in the history books as one of the most accomplished racehorses of all time.