Victor Espinoza is at Dubai World Cup for one reason and that is to ride California Chrome to victory

California Chrome provided the jockey, 42, with a second Kentucky Derby last season and a second Preakness Stakes, but when the Triple Crown was there for the offering, it slipped out of his grasp, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Jockey Victor Espinoza will be aboard three runners on Saturday, including the favourite in the feature race. Danny Johnston / AP Photo

Victor Espinoza is feeling the pressure.

California Chrome’s jockey flew in to Dubai on Wednesday night to finally complete the team responsible for the chestnut colt’s bid to make it a perfect 10 winners for America in the Dubai World Cup on Saturday.

Americans dominated the World Cup during the early years of the race at Nad Al Sheba, but they have struggled comparatively since it was moved to Meydan in 2010.

The jockey, 42, has won some of America’s biggest races. California Chrome provided him with a second Kentucky Derby last season and a second Preakness Stakes, but when the Triple Crown was there for the offering, it slipped out of his grasp.

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California Chrome added to Espinoza’s Triple Crown misery when finishing joint fourth in the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of America’s famous triptych, 12 years after he had tasted defeat in the same circumstance at Belmont Park with War Emblem.

California Chrome’s unique standing in American racing at present provides an extra dimension and there is the nagging doubt that with only one Breeders’ Cup win he still has to prove himself outside the American continent.

A few years ago, when British rider Hayley Turner became one of the few female jockeys to ride on World Cup night, she was asked whether she was feeling the strain of expectation.

She smiled. “Pressure’s for tyres,” she whipped back.

Espinoza was hardly as cocksure, yesterday. “There are a lot of ‘Chromies’ (California Chrome fans) and they are really excited to see him run,” he said.

“Every time he runs there is pressure for all the fans, I don’t have any pressure riding any other horses. Since I have been riding California Chrome, for me, the toughest race was in the Preakness. It was the most pressure I have ever had since I have been riding him.

“I have to use all my talent to ride this time.”

To add to the sense of expectation, the Mexican rider has never won in Dubai from six rides, and he did not come particularly close when third in the 2005 Dubai World Cup on Choctaw Nation.

He was three-and-a-half lengths adrift of Dubai’s second biggest payday when The Tin Man outperformed to finish second in what has become the Dubai Turf the following year.

Espinoza also rides Secret Circle in the Dubai Golden Shaheen and My Johnny Be Good in the UAE Derby, but there is only one reason he is here.

“I have come here to ride ­California Chrome,” he said. “It is always fun when I have a legitimate chance to win a race with a special horse.”

Last year Espinoza picked up purse earnings of US$12,116,015 (Dh44.5m) and, thanks to a long list of wins at the highest level, overall he has secured purse earnings of $172,432,234.

That is roughly $8,000 per start, but he is fully aware that tomorrow he rides for the biggest cheque in the sport.

When asked what it would mean to win the world’s most valuable race, his hunger had sharpened.

“I respect all of the horses, there is a reason why they are all here and I’m sure they want to all take the big $10 million. If I win it’ll mean I have more money in my account,” he said.

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