Godolphin’s Real World wins Steventon Stakes

Real World followed up his Royal Hunt Cup victory with another scintillating display on his Listed debut in the Steventon Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Stepping back up to a mile and a quarter, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt tracked Solid Stone and Movin Time for much of the race before finding himself caught in a pocket as Derab moved up on his outside three furlongs out.

Marco Ghiani switched Real World out over a furlong from home and the Godolphin four-year-old unleashed a storming late run, collaring Derab in the closing stages to win going away by a length and a quarter.

Saeed Bin Suroor said: “We are very happy with Real World, who improved from his win at Royal Ascot. He has won his Listed race now, so we will look for a Group target between a mile and a mile and a quarter for his next start.”

Ghiani added: “Real World is a really special horse, who is still improving. This was a step up in trip and grade and he still did it pretty easily. When Martin Harley came up on Derab and shut the door, I thought that I was in a bit of trouble but my horse just picked up really well as soon as he saw daylight.”

Real World’s win was quick compensation for the Suroor after Home City was demoted to second behind Tropez Power, having been first past the post in the Novice Stakes under Louis Steward.

The 2021 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide will have surgery to remove a chip in his knee, with Dr Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, performing the procedure. Dr Bramlage indicated that he expects the surgery will be very straightforward and uncomplicated.

With a sub-par performance when running second in the G2 Suburban Handicap on July 3, trainer Mike Stidham commented, “Expectations for the Suburban were high, so with his runner-up finish, we felt that we should take some precautionary x-rays.  

“We then followed those up with a PET scan which revealed the chip. It’s certainly unfortunate but I am glad that we know the extent of the injury and can move forward from here.”

Godolphin President Jimmy Bell said, “Mystic Guide is in great hands with Dr Bramlage so it now becomes a question of doing what’s right for the horse. It’s too early at this time to make a decision to either continue racing or retire him but we will give him some time to recuperate and we will then make that determination”.

Meanwhile, Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore, who made history this year as the first female winner of the Grand National, was hospitalised on Friday after a fall at Killarney Racecourse, officials said.

She was transported to hospital “for further assessment on an upper leg injury following a fall”, the Irish horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) said, relaying a doctor’s message.

The 32 year-old jockey was “fully conscious”, the IHRB added on Twitter.

The fall occurred in race four at Killarney -- in Ireland’s rural south-west -- as Blackmore rode atop 11-10 favourite Merry Poppins.

The Racing Post reported there was “a lengthy period of treatment from medical personnel on the track after the race”.

Blackmore shot to fame in April after becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National riding Minella Times.

Legendary rider AP McCoy described her performance as a “groundbreaker” for the sport.

One month earlier at Cheltenham Festival she also became the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle.

Agencies