Still an unknown quantity on turf, Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) takes the next step up the ladder in Saturday's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. at Haydock. Coming off an impressive success in Royal Ascot's Royal Hunt Cup June 16 to annexe the Listed Steventon S. over this 10-furlong trip at Newbury July 17, the 4-year-old is the kingpin of the Saeed bin Suroor stable and he said, “He has come back well from Newbury and he's an improving horse. He's been working well and we're happy with him now. We'll see how he gets on, but he's got some options in Group 1 races later in the year. I think good ground will be fair for him and if the rain comes we'll just have to see how he handles it.” Also featuring is the May 27 G3 Brigadier Gerard S. winner Euchen Glen (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), who was second to another bin Suroor trainee in Passion and Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the 12-furlong G3 Glorious S. at Goodwood last Friday, and King Power Racing's June 19 Golden Gates H. winner Foxes Tales (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The latter looks the pick of a pair of 3-year-olds and trainer Andrew Balding said, “I think the track should suit him and hopefully he gives a good performance.”
At Newmarket, there is another Godolphin representative to take centre stage among the 2-year-old fillies in the G3 Sweet Solera S. in the Charlie Appleby-trained Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Last seen chasing home the unbeaten Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed Star S. over this seven-furlong trip at Sandown July 22, the bay sets the standard on that effort and her handler commented, “I was pleased with the filly last time out and she has come out of that race at Sandown in good form. The winner was very impressive, but she put up another game performance finishing second. If she reproduces that run again, it would make her very competitive and probably the one to beat. She is pretty versatile with whatever ground we encounter at the weekend as she has won on soft ground and run well on quick ground.”
Mark Johnston has won this four times with three of them coming since 2014 and he puts forward the July 17 course-and-distance novice winner Value Theory (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) silks. “We could have gone a slightly more cautious route, but the fact she won over course and distance on what is probably going to be similar ground were two positives to come here,” Charlie Johnston said. “I'm not sure of the strength of her win last time out, but she could do no more than beat what was in front of her and I would like to think she would improve again. She is a nice straightforward filly and if she runs into the 90s she should be good enough to reach the frame.” Another 2-year-old filly of note takes part in Deauville's five-furlong Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge in Stonestreet Stables' June 16 G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), the first of the meeting's Wesley Ward-Frankie Dettori specials.
Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest will feature a dozen sprinters including Stonestreet and Ward's star performer Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who returns to the scene of her victory in the G1 Prix Morny over six at last year's meeting. She is drawn in six next door to David Ward's G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in seven, while Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is widest of all in 12. He re-opposes his July 11 G1 Prix Jean Prat conqueror Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), who is drawn against the stand's rail in one as the overseas challengers look to dominate.
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