Dubai: Real World should perform better on turf
Real World spent the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival racing on dirt, and it didn’t go especially well. He ran decently in a series of handicap races but hit his stride last summer as a European turf horse, winning the Group 3 Strensall over Lord Glitters and edging The Revenant in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein to finish out his campaign in October. Accordingly, Real World’s 2022 World Cup Carnival will be focused on grass races, and he’s top-rated Friday in the featured Group 2, $180,000 Zabeel Mile.
Saeed bin Suroor trains Real World for Godolphin and Frankie Dettori will break him from post 1 in the Zabeel Mile, which drew a field of 13 and is carded as the seventh of eight races. The Charlie Appleby wing of Godolphin also has two entrants, One Ruler and Path of Thunder. Real World, rated 118, has superior back form, but Path of Thunder, rated 112, holds a recency edge, for what that’s worth, having captured a 1,600-meter turf conditions race on Jan. 7 in eye-catching fashion. With Richard Mullen in the saddle, Path of Thunder, making his first start since July, stalked the pace and took over in mid-stretch, cruising to a 2 1/4-length score. He gets a jockey change Friday to William Buick and carries two kilograms (about 4 1/2 pounds) fewer than Real World.
Godolphin, Appleby, and Buick have the likely favorite, Star Safari, in the $100,000 Zabeel Turf, a listed stakes race over 2,000 meters. Sixth last march in the Group 1 Sheema Classic, Star Safari finished second, albeit more than four lengths behind powerhouse winner Dubai Future for bin Suroor, in a 2,400-meter listed turf stakes Jan. 14, his first start since late September.
Shahama, an American-bred Munnings filly who’s 2 for 2 this winter in Dubai, both races on dirt, heads a short field in the listed UAE 1,000 Guineas. Shahama has but five rivals in this one-turn mile and cruised to seven-furlong victories against maidens in December and in the Jan. 1 UAE Guineas Trial.
Trainer Doug O’Neill sent a small string for the World Cup Carnival, including Hot Rod Charlie, and entered his first horse this year in Friday’s first race, but the 6-year-old gelding Appreciated is an also-eligible who needs a scratch to start.
First post for the program is 9 a.m. Eastern. Catch all the action at DRFBets.com.