By Tom Frary
York's Saturday action kicked off in style, with the apple of Saeed bin Suroor's eye Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) again demonstrating his raw quality as his love affair with the impressive Marco Ghiani continued in the G3 Sky Bet and Symphony Group Strensall S. Dynamic in the June 16 Royal Hunt Cup at a mile and the 10-furlong Listed Steventon S. at Newbury July 17, Godolphin's progressive and as-yet untested 4-year-old was exposed on the wing early racing two lengths off the pace. Carting his rookie jockey to the front two out, the even-money favourite looked vulnerable for a few strides but stayed on again when asked a serious question to power to a 1 1/2-length success from the rock-solid 2018 winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper). “He might go France or Newmarket next, but his final race is going to be the [Oct. 16 G1] Queen Elizabeth II [at Ascot],” his trainer declared. “We took him to Dubai this year, but he was still weak. He's a nice horse who needs to improve, but every time he has run he has done and will be better next year.”
Real World is now unbeaten in three starts on turf and on Polytrack, with his sole start on that artificial surface coming on debut at Chelmsford in late October. Conversely unable to score on four outings on Meydan's dirt this winter, the imposing bay had managed a third placing in the Feb. 18 Listed Curlin S. but it was not until he stepped onto Royal Ascot's hallowed grass that he showed his true wares with a scarcely-believable 4 3/4-length romp in the always-competitive Royal Hunt Cup. The dam Nafura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also responsible for this year's Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was also runner-up in the G2 May Hill S. at two. She is a half-sister to three group winners headed by the stable's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp-winning sire Librettist (Danzig) and the brilliant G1 Queen Anne S. hero and sire Dubai Destination (Kingmambo).
The third dam Mysteries (Seattle Slew), who was third in the G3 Musidora S., produced three black-type winners including the G1 July Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp hero and proven sire Agnes World (Danzig) and the Japanese champion sprinter Hishi Akebono (Woodman). She is also the ancestress of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Tourist (Tiznow). Also connected to another of this stable's luminaries in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass), Nafura has the 2-year-old colt Home City (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) who was off the mark last week.
Saturday, York, Britain
SKY BET AND SYMPHONY GROUP STRENSALL S.-G3, £100,000, York, 8-21, 3yo/up, 8f 177yT, 1:47.66, gd.
1–REAL WORLD (IRE), 131, c, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Nafura (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mysterial, by Alleged
3rd Dam: Mysteries, by Seattle Slew
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Marco Ghiani. £56,710. Lifetime Record: SP-UAE, 8-4-1-2, $228,708. *1/2 to Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Eng, $123,978. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lord Glitters (Fr), 138, g, 8, Whipper–Lady Glitters (Fr), by Homme de Loi (Ire). (€25,000 Ylg '14 AR14; €270,000 4yo '17 ARJUN). O-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull; B-SCA Elevage de Tourgeville & Mme Hilary Erculiani (FR); T-David O'Meara. £21,500.
3–Duke of Hazzard (Fr), 131, h, 5, Lope de Vega (Ire)–With Your Spirit (Fr), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€130,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Runnymede Farm Inc & C W Clay (FR); T-Paul & Oliver Cole. £10,760.
Margins: 1HF, 1, NO. Odds: 1.00, 10.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Bell Rock (GB), My Oberon (Ire), El Drama (Ire), Brunch (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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