Rebel's Romance | |
---|---|
Sire | Dubawi (IRE) |
Grandsire | Dubai Millennium (GB) |
Dam | Minidress (GB) |
Damsire | Street Cry (IRE) |
Sex | Gelding |
Foaled | 19 March 2018 [1] |
Country | Ireland |
Color | Dark bay or Brown |
Breeder | Godolphin |
Owner | Godolphin Racing |
Trainer | Charlie Appleby |
Record | 22 :15 - 0 - 1 |
Earnings | US$11,777,574 [2] |
Major wins | |
UAE Derby (2021) Glorious Stakes (2022) Grosser Preis von Berlin (2022) Preis von Europa (2022, 2024) Breeders' Cup Turf (2022, 2024) Wild Flower Stakes (2023) H H Amir Trophy (QAT) (2024) Dubai Sheema Classic (2024) Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup (2024) | |
Last updated on 5 October 2024 |
Rebel's Romance (foaled March 19, 2018) is an Irish-bred multiple Group/Grade I turf winning Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 2022 he won the UAE Derby on the dirt in Dubai. His major wins in 2022 include the Grosser Preis von Berlin and Preis von Europa in Germany and the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland where he set a new track record.
Rebel's Romance is a dark bay or brown gelding who was bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation. He was sent into training with Charlie Appleby, whose stable is based at Newmarket, Suffolk, but typically relocates to Dubai in winter.
He was sired by Dubawi a top-class son of Dubai Millennium, whose wins included the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques Le Marois. At stud, Dubawi has been a highly successful breeding stallion, siring major winners such as Monterosso, Al Kazeem, Makfi, Lucky Nine and Night of Thunder. [3]
Rebel's Romance's dam Minidress is a full-sister to Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy winner Volcanic Sky (GB), with both being produced by Group 3 Musidora Stakes - and G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks placegetter Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat (GB). Rebel Romance's third dam is the excellent producer Much Too Risky (GB) (Bustino (GB), who has four stakes winners to her credit headed by G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian), herself the dam of the multiple Group 1-winning Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa (JPN) (Neo Universe (JPN) and G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Asakusa De'nen (GB) (Singspiel (IRE)). Short Skirt's three-parts brother Little Rock (GB) (Warning (GB) won the G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes, while Much Too Risky is kin to G1 Irish St. Leger hero Arctic Owl (GB) (Most Welcome (GB) and G1 Sydney Cup winner Marooned (GB). Minidress has the two-year-old colt Measured Time (GB) (Frankel (GB)) (2020) and a yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB) (2021) to come. [4]
Rebel's Romance began his career at Newcastle Racecourse in a Novice Stakes event on the polytrack surface winning the race by a length as the 9/2 third choice in a field of nine runners. [5] He followed up with a four-length victory at Kempton Park Racecourse as the 11/10 favorite. [6] His management then shipped the horse to the Middle East to continue his campaign rather than turn him out for a spell over winter.
Rebel's Romance opened his three-year-old campaign in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial over 1600 metres at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Settling in mid-division after the start, he made progress with a quarter-mile out, leading with one furlong to run to win by a head over the US-bred Mouheeb. [7]
On February 20, in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby in Saudi Arabia, Rebel's Romance finished fourth to the Japanese-bred Pink Kamehameha. [8] Charlie Appleby was disappointed with the effort, commenting later, "We were expecting a better run than in Saudi." [9]
In his next assignment, Rebel's Romance was entered in the UAE Derby, a major event in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. After starting towards the rear, jockey William Buick pushed him after being outpaced after one furlong. He moved into second place over a furlong out, then hit the front and was clear in the final 100 yards, drawing away to a 5+1⁄2-length victory. [10] Although Rebel's Romance earned 100 points for the victory, which would ensure a spot in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Charlie Appleby wasn't committed for his plans. [9]
Although the horse was in fifth place in the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby standings trainer Appleby commented on social media, "Having spoken to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, we feel (Rebel's Romance) needs more time, and he will now be aimed at the last leg of the US Triple Crown, the G1 Belmont Stakes." [11] After arriving in the United States in May and after a couple of workouts in preparation for the Belmont Stakes, Rebel's Romance was found to have a hind leg infection and was withdrawn from consideration for the event. [12]
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On November 5, in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in the US, Rebel's Romance started slowly. Jockey Doyle commented, "We ended up in a nice position" after the slow break. "I was keen to get him off the inside rail and get him out to the middle of the track. It was a little raw on the turns." He ran on strongly to win by 2+1⁄4 lengths from Irish-bred Stone Age and War Like Goddess in third. Rebel's Romance finished the 1+1⁄2 miles on firm turf in course-record time of 2:26.35. [13]
The horse was initially scheduled to start the season with the Dubai City of Gold on March 1, but due to inflammation in his forearm, he was withdrawn. [14] On March 25, he was entered in the Dubai Sheema Classic, but his winning streak stopped at 5 as he was unable to catch up to the victor, Equinox. [15]
On July 30, at Saratoga, the horse clipped heels and fell in Bowling Green Stakes race as the heavy 11-20 favorite and was unhurt in the incident. Jockey Richard Mullen was taken to hospital after the fall. [16]
Rebel’s Romance finished fourth at the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes before being entered in the Grosser Preis von Bayern, only to be scratched. [17] The horse scored a victory in his final race of the season, the Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton held at December 13.
After his win in Qatar, he won the 2024 Dubai Sheema Classic.
Date | Distance | Race | Grade/ Group | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning time | Winning (Losing) margin | Jockey | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 – two-year-old season | |||||||||||
Oct 26, 2020 | 1 mile 5 yards | Novice Stakes | Newcastle | 9/2 | 9 | 1 | 1:41.74 | 1 length | William Buick | [5] | |
Nov 18, 2020 | 1 mile | Novice Stakes | Kempton Park | 11/10* | 12 | 1 | 1:37.95 | 4 lengths | William Buick | [6] | |
2021 – three-year-old season | |||||||||||
Jan 14, 2021 | 1600 metres [lower-alpha 1] | UAE 2000 Guineas Trial | Meydan (UAE) | N/A [lower-alpha 2] | 10 | 1 | 1:37.55 | head | William Buick | [7] | |
Feb 20, 2021 | 1600 metres [lower-alpha 3] | Saudi Derby | King Abdulaziz Racetrack | N/A [lower-alpha 4] | 12 | 4 | 1:38.57 | (5 lengths) | William Buick | [8] | |
Mar 27, 2021 | 1900 metres [lower-alpha 5] | UAE Derby | II | Meydan (UAE) | N/A [lower-alpha 6] | 14 | 1 | 1:56.28 | 5+1⁄2 lengths | William Buick | [10] |
2022 – four-year-old season | |||||||||||
Jan 21, 2022 | 2000 metres [lower-alpha 7] | Aliyah By Azizi | Meydan (UAE) | N/A [lower-alpha 8] | 16 | 8 | 2:03.46 | (24+3⁄4 lengths) | William Buick | [18] | |
Feb 11, 2022 | 2000 metres | Curlin Stakes | Listed | Meydan (UAE) | N/A [lower-alpha 9] | 13 | 11 | 2:08.12 | (26+3⁄4 lengths) | William Buick | [19] |
Jun 25, 2022 | 1+1⁄2 miles | Fred Archer Stakes | Listed | Newmarket | 9/4* | 4 | 1 | 2:35.75 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | William Buick | [20] |
Jul 29, 2022 | 1m 3f 218y | Glorious Stakes [lower-alpha 10] | III | Goodwood | 4/5* | 8 | 1 | 2:34.89 | 1 length | William Buick | [21] |
Aug 14, 2022 | 2400 metres [lower-alpha 11] | Grosser Preis von Berlin | I | Hoppegarten (GER) | Evens* | 8 | 1 | 2:32.33 | neck | James Doyle | [22] |
Sep 25, 2022 | 2400 metres [lower-alpha 12] | Preis von Europa | I | Cologne (GER) | 13/10* | 7 | 1 | 2:30.97 | 3⁄4 length | William Buick | [23] |
Nov 6, 2022 | 1+1⁄2 miles | Breeders' Cup Turf | I | Keeneland | 5.96 | 13 | 1 | 2:26.35 [lower-alpha 13] | 2+1⁄4 lengths | James Doyle | [24] |
2023 – five-year-old season | |||||||||||
Mar 25, 2023 | 2410 metres [lower-alpha 14] | Dubai Sheema Classic | I | Meydan (UAE) | N/A [lower-alpha 15] | 10 | 7 | 2:25.65 | (11 lengths) | William Buick | [25] |
Jul 30, 2023 | 1+3⁄8 miles | Bowling Green Stakes | II | Saratoga | 0.55* | 9 | fell | 2:15.21 | DNF | Richard Mullen | [26] |
Oct 7, 2023 | 1+1⁄2 miles | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic | I | Aqueduct | 0.55* | 8 | 4 | 2:32.86 [lower-alpha 16] | (5+3⁄4 lengths) | William Buick | [27] |
Dec 13, 2023 | 1m 3f 219y | Wild Flower Stakes | Listed | Kempton Park | 4/5* | 8 | 1 | 1:37.95 | 1+1⁄4 lengths | William Buick | [28] |
2024 – six-year-old season | |||||||||||
Feb 17, 2024 | 2400 metres [lower-alpha 17] | H H The Amir Trophy | III | Doha (QAT) | N/A [lower-alpha 18] | 11 | 1 | 2:28.84 | 3 lengths | William Buick | [29] |
Mar 30, 2024 | 2410 metres [lower-alpha 19] | Dubai Sheema Classic | I | Meydan (UAE) | N/A [lower-alpha 20] | 10 | 1 | 2:26.72 | 2 lengths | William Buick | [30] |
May 26, 2024 | 2400 metres [lower-alpha 21] | Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup | I | Sha Tin (HK) | 0.40 [lower-alpha 22] | 8 | 1 | 2:25.62 | 2 lengths | William Buick | [31] |
July 27, 2024 | 1m 3f 211y | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | I | Ascot | 5/2 | 9 | 3 | 2:27.43 | (5+1⁄2 lengths) | William Buick | [32] |
Sep 22, 2024 | 2400 metres [lower-alpha 23] | Preis von Europa | I | Cologne (GER) | 3/5* | 6 | 1 | 2:25.91 | neck | William Buick | [33] |
Nov 2, 2024 | 1+1⁄2 miles | Breeders' Cup Turf | I | Del Mar | 1.90* | 13 | 1 | 2:26.07 | neck | William Buick | [34] |
Legend:
Turf Dirt All--weather track
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Rebel's Romance was the post-time favorite.
Sire Dubawi (IRE) (2002) | Dubai Millennium (GB) (1996) | Seeking The Gold (1985) | Mr Prospector* (1970) |
---|---|---|---|
Con Game (1974) | |||
Colorado Dancer (IRE) (1986) | Shareef Dancer (1980) | ||
Fall Aspen (1976) | |||
Zomaradah (GB) (1995) | Deploy (GB) (1987) | Shirley Heights (GB) (1975) | |
Slightly Dangerous (1979) | |||
Jawaher (IRE) (1989) | Dancing Brave (1983) | ||
High Tern (IRE) (1982) | |||
Dam Minidress (GB) (2009) | Street Cry (IRE) (1998) | Machiavellian (1987) | Mr Prospector* (1970) |
Coup De Folie (1982) | |||
Helen Street (GB) (1982) | Troy (GB) (1976) | ||
Waterway (FR) (1976) | |||
Short Skirt (GB) (2003) | Diktat (GB) (1995) | Warning (GB) (1985) | |
Arvolo (GB) (1990) | |||
Much Too Risky (GB) (1982) | Bustino (GB) (1971) | ||
Short Rations (GB) (1975) (family 8-d) [35] |
* Rebel's Romance is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Mr Prospector, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth on the dam side of his pedigree.
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