Earlier, the American trainer Wesley Ward won the Queen Mary Stakes for a second time, six years after his Jealous Again bolted five lengths clear of her field. She was allowed to start at 13-2 but Ward has since established a reputation for bringing astonishingly fast juveniles across the Atlantic for this week and his Acapulco was sent off as the 5-2 favourite, despite having been beaten on her only racecourse outing.
Ward had enthused about her unstintingly in the buildup, describing her work on turf as the best he had ever seen, and the crowd here saw what he had been seeing when Ryan Moore sent her for home with two furlongs to go. While the winner was impressive, Easton Angel ran a huge race in defeat, having raced on the opposite side of the course and started her run after Acapulco had gone clear.
Acapulco was noted by many as an unusually impressive physical specimen for a two-year-old filly, to the extent that even Ward appeared confused. “If you look at her, she looks like she’s four and not three,” he said on Racing UK.
California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
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Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
Wesley Ward wins the Diamond Jubilee with Undrafted at 14/1
- bdw0617
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Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
From triple crown hopeful to Casino Drive: The California Chrome Story
It's really really sad that they've done to this horse
It's really really sad that they've done to this horse
"When the solution is simple, God is answering.”
- Einstein
- Einstein
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
California Chrome is done with his Euro experiment. He has been withdrawn from the July 4th race at Sandown Park (The Group I Coral-Eclipse Stakes) his owner had pre-entered him in. The good news is his hoof is responding to treatment, but they have run out of time to have him ready to run July 4th. He is doing well and they expect to get him shod tomorrow, Monday (6/22). Though that still doesn't mean the abscess is dead, many times if they rush it....it does return after a return to galloping?
He is due back in the states some time this month to prepare for the Arlington Million, August 15th. Hopefully things go smooth for CC and the foot stays sound and he makes the Arlington Million. Though without a start prior to that race, it won't be easy. Also on CC's agenda is the Jockey Club Gold Cup October 3rd at Belmont Park and the October 31st Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland. I for one am glad to see he's coming home and back in the hands of Sherman and company. TJ
He is due back in the states some time this month to prepare for the Arlington Million, August 15th. Hopefully things go smooth for CC and the foot stays sound and he makes the Arlington Million. Though without a start prior to that race, it won't be easy. Also on CC's agenda is the Jockey Club Gold Cup October 3rd at Belmont Park and the October 31st Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland. I for one am glad to see he's coming home and back in the hands of Sherman and company. TJ
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Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
What a complete waste of time.
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
Wesley Ward believes Acapulco is perfectly capable of taking on the older horses in the Nunthorpe at York, while stablemate Undrafted is heading to Haydock.
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
If anything, the long grassy gallops were good for Chrome. Better than the backstretch at Los Al (sorry, it is true).
I feel like it was all just a publicity stunt. He is no longer relevant...there is a new big boy in town, and his name is American Pharoah.
I just hope they do what is the best for Chrome. He might get an easier time on the dirt back here anyway.
I feel like it was all just a publicity stunt. He is no longer relevant...there is a new big boy in town, and his name is American Pharoah.
I just hope they do what is the best for Chrome. He might get an easier time on the dirt back here anyway.
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
Cree wrote:If anything, the long grassy gallops were good for Chrome. Better than the backstretch at Los Al (sorry, it is true).
I feel like it was all just a publicity stunt. He is no longer relevant...there is a new big boy in town, and his name is American Pharoah.
I just hope they do what is the best for Chrome. He might get an easier time on the dirt back here anyway.
Hi Cree,
His next start will be in the Arlington Million, he will work his way into the race after nearly 5 1/2 months of racing inactivity since the World Cup. He is expected to return to Arlington, sit out his quarantine then begin his training. Hopefully he will get here early enough to have at least 5 solid, uneventful works prior to the Million? He has The Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders Cup Classic on the dirt as possibles after the Million? TJ
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
Well, I don't think he's irrelevant, since I just finished writing the 16h chapter of a manuscript on him. Still quite a story with all its ups and downs.
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher...You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse." C. S. Lewis
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
California Chrome is scheduled to return to the states this Tuesday July 7th, he will be sent directly to Arlington for his quarantine period and hopefully have enough time to prepare to run five and a half weeks later, in the Arlington Million on the turf. TJ
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Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
I don't rate his chances in the Arlington Million highly at all. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
California Chrome arrived safe and sound at Arlington today. He was met by his former California groom, Raul Rodriguez and his latest exercise rider Anna Wells....these two will be caring for him for the time being while he is in quarantine. I wonder what became of his former exercise rider, Willie Delgado who got him through his Derby and Preakness scores? TJ
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... -arlington
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... -arlington
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Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
There's a lot of buzz on Facebook about CC looking very thin on his return. Any opinions here?
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
geowarrior wrote:There's a lot of buzz on Facebook about CC looking very thin on his return. Any opinions here?
Hi Geo,
Of the pictures I saw of him....he looked like a different horse, he wasn't alert looking and his coat didn't look as healthy and bright as it once did. He looks light waisted and his chest, throat latch, neck and hindquarters look weak by comparison to last season.
See for yourself, this is yesterday's picture of CC:
https://www.facebook.com/47004141976418 ... =1&theater
This was last years picture of him right after he ran in the Belmont Stakes and they are examining his grabbed quarter. Keep in mind he isn't at his best after running in the 3 TC races so he is lighter then he was going into the race, yet he still looks stronger and heavier then he does in yesterdays photo:
https://tribkswb.files.wordpress.com/20 ... ry-top.jpg
Re: California Chrome Headed to Royal Ascot
I thought he was looking good in England.
Maybe the travel really got to him? They can drop a bunch of weight fretting and what-not (at least I know my TB can).
Maybe the travel really got to him? They can drop a bunch of weight fretting and what-not (at least I know my TB can).