Real World (Ire)

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues at Meydan on Friday, with a pair of group races on tap for the turf milers and main-track sprinters, with the G2 Zabeel Mile the highlight of the nine-race card. Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is the clear standout on ratings, and won this contest in 2022 before placing second in both the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Queen Anne S. back on UK soil for trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Now seven, the gelding is aiming at a return to form after running...

Friday marks the first edition of the Festive Friday card at Meydan, featuring two group races, three listed races and AED4.5 million in prize-money across the nine-race stand. Returning to the scene of his 2023 G2 Godolphin Mile victory is Isolate (Mark Valeski), who will step out in the AED1-million G2 Al Maktoum Mile for trainer Doug Watson. Tyler Gaffalione will fly in for the race from the States. "That was a great day and he's moving better this year than he did last year," said trainer Doug Watson, who...

Shadwell's undefeated Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has improved to a mark of 128, two pounds better than his nearest challenger on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday. The dominant winner of the G1 Queen Anne S. defeated the 122-ranked Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) at Royal Ascot. Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) is co-second on the ratings at 126 after a win in the G1 King's Stand S., alongside GI Metropolitan H. hero Flightline (Tapit). Japan's Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) set a...

Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), second in the G1 Lockinge S. and the G1 Queen Anne S. in May and June, respectively, has turned in a poor scope and will not run in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown on Saturday, trainer Saeed bin Suroor revealed. A winner at Group 2 level in France last October and in the G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan in January, the 5-year-old entire would have had Frankie Dettori in the irons. "Frankie is our man, but unfortunately the horse is not going...

Royal Ascot 2022 will kick off with the cream of the crop, as Shadwell's Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was confirmed Sunday for the meeting's opening G1 Queen Anne S.. William Haggas' unbeaten 4-year-old has six rivals to deal with as he looks to cement his place at the head of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings having got there with an emphatic return win from the re-opposing Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 14. It hasn't escaped anyone's attentions that he...

WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. in dominating fashion, has drawn gate one in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup. The 4-year-old colt is six for seven, with five of his wins at the graded level. Elliott Walden, president and racing manager of co-owner WinStar Farm said, "It's an 11-horse field. He has enough time to get over, and has enough speed to put himself in a good position. It's...

  The highlight of Friday's Dubai World Cup Carnival card is the G2 Zabeel Mile Presented By Emaar Beachfront. Saeed bin Suroor's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is riding a four-race winning streak since failing to win at the DWCC last term. One of three in the race for Godolphin, the 5-year-old entire won Royal Ascot's Royal Hunt Cup in June and followed up in a Newbury listed affair a month later. Successful in the G3 Strensall S. versus Meydan Group 1 winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) on Aug....

Dual group winner Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) pleased trainer Saeed bin Suroor in his work on Thursday and is being pointed at the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in February. Godolphin's 5-year-old son of Nafura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Listed Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on June 16, added the Aug. 21 Strensall S. prior to signing off last season with a narrow victory in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 2. "He worked today and he worked really well, he's in good...

Fresh off August wins in Newbury's Listed Steventon S. and York's G3 Strensall S., Godolphin's 4-year-old colt Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) continued the operation's perfect start to Arc weekend and played the pantomime villain role to a tee by denying local hero The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a third straight win in Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp. He carried the Godolphin second colours and also usurped The Revenant at the tills, going postward as the 17-10 chalk and occupied a forward third, inching into second...

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 Dubai World Cup Carnival continues at Meydan on Thursday, and the seven-race card is loaded with six stakes races-five at group level-a little over two weeks in advance of the Mar. 6 Super Saturday card. The G2 Zabeel Mile has been won the past two years by Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby. Per usual, the royal blue is well represented, and the 110-rated D'Bai (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) leads the foursome. The 2019 G2 Al Fahidi Fort victor was only three-quarters of a length back in second when defending his title...