Saeed bin Suroor backs Real World to clinch Dubai World Cup crown

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor believes Real World can bounce back and hand him a 10th Dubai World Cup in the 26th running of the thoroughbred spectacle at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday.

The Emirati is confident that the five-year-old will put a disappointment run at the $20 million Group 1 Saudi Cup – that ended a five-race winning streak – behind him this weekend. The son of Dark Angel suffered his first defeat in six starts when finishing 11th in Riyadh.

Godolphin are double-handed in the $12m Group 1 race in Dubai with Real World drawn in Gate 6 and the French maestro Andre Fabre-trained Magny Course jumping out of Gate 9.

“This was always the plan for him and we’ve always trained him on the all-weather track at home,” Bin Suroor said of his preparation for the race that will be run over the 2,000 metre dirt surface.

“Real World missed the break in the Saudi Cup and that effectively ended his chances. But he’s come out of that run very well and has trained on really well.

“He worked last Saturday and it was the best work I’ve ever seen, clocking 1 minute 26 seconds on the bridle."

“His draw is brilliant and Christophe [Soumillon] the jockey knows the track very well,” Bin Suroor added.

“Christophe is a two-time winner of the race [with Thunder Snow in 2018 and 2019] so it’s great to have him on our side.

“It’s a very tough race and it’s hard to win. You always have to have a good horse. We’ve won it nine times and we’ll try to do it again.”

Dubai World Cup favourite Life Is Good gallops in the morning track work at Meydan Racecourse. AP Photo

Magny Course, third in the Dubai World Cup 12 months ago, is back after finishing one spot ahead of Real World in the Saudi Cup.

The real test for the Godolphin pair is