Dubai: Real World doesn't disappoint in Zabeel Mile

Real World was the 1-2 favorite in the Group 2, $180,000 Zabeel Mile on Friday at Meydan Racecourse and he did not disappoint.

Coming home crisply under Daniel Tudhope, Real World won his fifth race in a row capturing the Zabeel Mile by 2 1/2 lengths over Alfareeq.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin, Real World raced only on dirt during the 2021 World Cup Carnival and now is unbeaten on turf after winning four in a row last season in Europe, including a Group 3 and a Group 2. He has successfully stayed 2,000 meters but clearly has the acceleration for races at this mile distance, though bin Suroor did not name a specific immediate target for his next start. Real World, by Dark Angel out of Nafura, by Dubai, appeared to win with plenty to spare and clocked 1:35.36 over “good” going, just .52 second off the course record.

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Godolphin also won the listed Zabeel Turf, a $100,000 race run over 2,000 meters, where Star Safari got a sweet rail trip under William Buick and was home by a head over Marie’s Diamond. Even more visually impressive was Siskany, a 4-year-old trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by James Doyle, who tried a staying trip for the first time and really enjoyed it. Siskany, by Dubai, drew away to a 5 1/2-length victory in this race at about 1 3/4 miles, and with further improvement over the next several weeks could become a candidate for the Gold Cup on the Dubai World Cup undercard.

Connections of the 3-year-old filly Shahama also have a World Cup night race in mind, the UAE Derby, after Shahama won for the third time in as many starts Friday, landing the $100,000 UAE 1000 Guineas by 3 3/4 lengths. Shahama, an American-bred by Munnings out of Private Feeling, by Belong to Me, was a nine-length debut winner over maidens in December and easily had captured the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial on Jan. 1. Friday, under Adrie de Vries, Shahama settled near the back of a short field before taking command in the homestretch and winning comfortably. The UAE Oaks is her immediate goal.

Hot Rod Charlie works

Hot Rod Charlie worked five furlongs in about 1:01 on Thursday at Meydan, trainer Doug O’Neill said Friday, though O’Neill was not in Dubai to see the breeze.

“According to the guys there, everyone was happy. He had a good gallop-out,” said O’Neill.

The drill was the lone work for Hot Rod Charlie after shipping from California and before he races next Friday in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, his prep for the Dubai World Cup on March 26.

“He really enjoys shipping, one of the special things about this horse, and everyone is happy with the way’s he’s done there at this point. The plan is to run well there Friday, come out of it good, and freshen up for the big one,” O’Neill said.