Godolphin’s Coroebus out to prove mettle at Royal Ascot

Godolphin’s 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus is out to prove his mettle as Europe’s top three-year-old miler in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, with the royal blues' Real World, Man Of Promise and Lazuli also chasing Group 1 honours on the opening day of Royal Ascot, Tuesday.

Coroebus bids to follow up a sensational victory on his seasonal return in Newmarket, in which he stayed on powerfully to beat stable-mate Native Trail by three-quarters of a length.

That Classic success followed a highly promising juvenile campaign for the Charlie Appleby-trained homebred Dubawi colt that yielded further Newmarket victories in a novice race and the Group 3 Emirates Autumn Stakes.

“It was always the plan to head straight here after the Guineas with Coroebus,” Appleby told godolphin.com.

“His preparation has gone well and he is the Classic winner they all have to beat. We are happy with his draw in stall two and he heads to Ascot in good form.”

Real World returns to Ascot’s straight mile for the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes having stormed to a decisive victory over the course and distance in the Royal Hunt Cup 12 months ago, a win that kickstarted an unbeaten European season for the Dark Angel entire.

After ending his campaign with success in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, Real World easily took the Group 2 Zabeel Mile in Dubai before two disappointing dirt appearances in the Group 1 Saudi Cup and Group 1 Dubai World Cup.

The five-year-old bounced back to form in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on his latest start as he chased home Shadwell’s unbeaten star Baaeed, who he faces again at Ascot.

“Real World has done well since the Lockinge and I was pleased with his most recent piece of work,” his trainer Saeed bin Suroor