In the days leading up to the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb. 26, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the starters in the world’s richest horse race. Profiles will be updated with odds, post positions and jockeys several days before the race (jockeys listed from last race).
By Richard Rosenblatt
2022 Saudi Cup Horse Profile: Real World
Real World – Photo courtesy of Healy Racing
This 5-year-old Godolphin runner brings a five-race winning streak into the $20 million Saudi Cup, all of them on turf.
However, Ireland-bred Real World could be the real thing even on dirt – he’s won at the 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup distance (albeit on turf in the Grade 3 Strensall Stakes at York) and he’s won a pair of Grade 2s his last two times out – the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp and the Zabeel Mile at Meydan on Jan. 28.
Real World began his career on the dirt with a 0-for-4 record at Meydan in Dubai but ran second and third in his first two starts, both at 1 3/16 miles.
Betting advice: Real World is stepping up in class, but with a five-race winning streak, one should not dismiss a contender surely to have a handsome payoff. If he can produce the stretch run, he did last time out, he could challenge for a huge chunk of the prize money.
Post position: 4
Odds: 12-1 (BUSR.com odds)
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Owner: Godolphin
Age: 5
Career record: 9-5-1-2
Career earnings: $474,051
Top Equibase speed figure: N/A
Pedigree: Dark Angel-Nafura, by Dubawi
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker/Closer
Notes: After the win in the Zabeel, Suroor said: “We felt that Real World was 90% ready for tonight. He was improving with every piece of work but needed this to make him spot on for the races coming. The pace was strong tonight and the lead horse helped Real World. I was very happy when everyone else had kicked and he was still on the bridle. He ran well and finished his race good.” … Added Tudhope: “This was just a steppingstone, and he has bigger and better targets.”
Over the years while working at The Associated Press, Rich Rosenblatt became a familiar name to legions of the horse racing fans and industry insiders with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his stories from the backstretch.
In addition to being an astute observer of sports, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in just about every publication in the world, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Time Magazine.
