Real World, Kemari shine as Godolphin enjoys double on Day 2 at Royal Ascot

Real World turned one of the most competitive heritage handicaps at Royal Ascot into a procession with an exhilarating performance in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday.

The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained four-year-old, encountering turf for the first time having raced on the all-weather in the UK and on dirt in Dubai, tracked Eastern World on the far rail as the 30 runners split into two groups over the straight mile.

Real World took up the running on his side two and a half furlongs from home and readily opened up a commanding advantage over his group. The Dark Angel homebred galloped out relentlessly under Marco Ghiani to beat his nearest pursuer on the stands’ rail, Astro King, by nearly five lengths.

Suroor said: “Real World is a good horse. This year, he has been showing that he is a nice type and he has just come right. Two days ago, I said to Marco Ghiani to ride the horse and that, to be famous and for the world to watch you, you have to win this race at Royal Ascot. I am very happy for him.

“This was Real World’s first run on turf and, even with the fast ground, he handled it well. He is a horse with Group class. I think there is a Listed race that we could target.

“Every race is big at Royal Ascot, even the handicaps, so it is great to have a winner.”

Marco Ghiani said: “Real World usually misses the break, so we had the blindfold and went in a bit late. It definitely works because he jumped well and I just managed to stay next to William Buick on Eastern World.

“Real World was travelling really nicely - at halfway, he was on the bridle and I thought we would have a chance, but I didn’t know he’d win that easily. He quickened away and just in the last furlong was looking at the crowd. He’s an improving horse and I think still a bit of a baby, but he will get better.”

Progressive three-year-old Kemari announced himself as a top stayer in the making with a decisive victory in the G2 Queen’s Vase over a mile and three-quarters.

The son of Dubawi, stepping up in class and trip for Charlie Appleby following an easy success in a Yarmouth maiden, broke well and settled in third on the inside rail as Law Of The Sea led the 13 runners.

Kemari continued to travel kindly turning for home and quickened powerfully between horses to take up the running just inside the two-furlong pole. He soon opened up daylight and galloped out strongly for William Buick, crossing the line a length and a half clear of the staying-on Wordsworth in second.

Appleby said: “I must give the team at home a lot of credit for this – Kemari has been a challenging horse during the winter. He was gelded, and had his hood on for his first start, but full credit to them, they have done a great job.

“William praised Kemari highly after that win at Yarmouth. I have to say, I sat on the fence slightly and felt he was a horse who was progressing, but was he progressing quickly enough to be able to step up into today’s league? He has proved me wrong and William right, which is the great thing about having a team such as we have got, we all put our opinions in and hopefully we get the right result. But the horse is definitely a horse who is going the right way.

“I hope he will make up into a Cup horse for next year. This year - as we all know, in the past few years three-year-olds in the Melbourne Cup, they have produced the goods. Whether he gets to that level, we will see, but we will enjoy today. Wil will have the discussions with our principals and managers during the next few weeks, and map the autumn out. He’s got a profile that is working in that direction, anyway.”

William Buick added: “I had a nice draw and got a good position out of the gates. The pace took me to where I needed to be and he really quickened up well. It actually surprised me how well he quickened. He is learning on the job and I thought it was a good quality race.”