Chrome in Lockinge mix

American superstar California Chrome is among a stellar entry of 36 for the Al Shaqab Lockinge at Newbury on May 16.

Last year's Kentucky Derby winner, who also won the Preakness Stakes, has gone on to finish third in the Breeders' Cup Classic and last weekend was second in the Dubai World Cup.

The change in itinerary to bring him to Europe shocked plenty and the four-year-old will be based with Rae Guest in Newmarket from where it is hoped he will run in the Lockinge and then at Royal Ascot.

A further American challenger could emerge in the shape of Mshawish, owned by the sponsors and trained by Todd Pletcher.

Breeders' Cup Mile winner Karakontie, trained by France by Jonathan Pease, has also been given the option.

Alan Cooper, racing manager to Karakontie's owners the Niarchos Family, said: "Karakontie has wintered well and the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is the race we are looking at.

"We will obviously have to see nearer the time but we feel he is a horse who needs good ground so he may well make his reappearance at Newbury. We have also entered a pacemaker, Maximum Velocity.

"Karakontie won very well at the Breeders' Cup and there was no fluke about his performance in America. After he won the French 2,000 Guineas, we got him ready for the Prix du Jockey Club but he did not appreciate the extra distance and it took him a long time to get over it.

"He was not really sparking and it was not until the second half of September that he really began to flourish again. He got massacred in the Foret but kept improving and in California he was in top form.

"The objective after the Lockinge Stakes will be the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. Then you have got races like the Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois - essentially he will be kept to the top mile races."

Other French-trained possibles include Ectot, Prestige Vendome and the filly Bawina.

Aidan O'Brien has entered Due Diligence plus Cougar Mountain and Oklahoma City, with Sir Michael Stoute's Integral and Clive Brittain's Rizeena also in the frame.

Bruce Raymond, owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's racing manager, said: "Rizeena has done very well over the winter. She looks great and Clive is very pleased with her.

"At this stage the plan is to run in the Lockinge at Newbury but we are keeping our options open - that is why she has been given the entry for York (Middleton Stakes)."

This year's prize money for the Group One has risen by 64% to £350,000.