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California Chrome, runner-up in the Dubai World Cup last year, makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in a dirt race a Meydan on Thursday.

Unusually for a horse of his class he is running in a handicap, giving upwards of 10kg to his seven rivals in the dirt event over 2000m.

The 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner missed Royal Ascot in June when he picked up a foot abscess before the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

His future had been in some doubt but he returned to win at Santa Anita in January.

"He is a bigger and stronger horse this year," assistant trainer Alan Sherman said.

"He has done everything we have asked of him and we are very pleased with his preparations.

"We decided to run this week rather than on Super Saturday (March 5) to give him a month between races before the World Cup.

"We could not be happier with him and are really excited about having another crack at the Dubai World Cup."

California Chrome, the US Horse of the Year in 2014, is using the race as his prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.

The 5-year-old, who finished second to Prince Bishop in last year's World Cup, has an official rating of 121 and is the highest-rated horse in the field of 10.

It's the same race another US champion Curlin used to prepare for his 2008 World Cup win.