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Review: Rebel’s Romance Wins UAE 2000 Guineas Trial

Godolphin's Charlie Appleby William Buick claimed another feature race on the UAE calendar when Ireland Rebel’s Romance won the AED 183,650 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (1600m) at Meydan Randwick.

Review: Rebel’s Romance Wins UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Image 1

In a close finish with Nicholas Bachalard's Mouheeb, the son of Dubawi Rebel's Romance proved his superiority in his final strides to sweep past the wire. The gelding remains unbeaten after three starts having won over 1600m on the all-weather surfaces at both Newcastle, on debut in late October, and Kempton, in the middle of November.

A dead-heat for third, shared by debutant Sharp Spun and the previously unbeaten Zhou Storm, was fought out fully seven lengths in arrears.

The 1200m turf highlight was the Dubai Trophy was claimed by early leader Topper Bill under Richard Mullen, riding for Satish Seemar in the colours of Ali Al Shafar & Abdulla Al Shafar. First Smile (IRE) looked certain to complete a treble for Godolphin and doubles for Saeed bin Suroor and Pat Cosgrave when cruising to the front passing the 350m pole, landed in second place with American bred-Dignity Joy finishing third.

“To be honest that was quite a nice surprise because he has not shown much at home, but some horses are like that," said Seemar.

The opening Mina Hamriya, a 1400m dirt maiden for 3-year-olds, was dominated by Salem bin Ghadayer who supplied both the winner, Meshakel and runner-up, Rare Ninja, but only one horse really mattered from the moment Royston Ffrench kicked for home on the easy victor.

“This horse has plenty of speed and a touch of class, so is a really nice ride for a jockey. He is a nice sort.”

Ffrench denied Mickael Barzalona in that race and repeated the trick aboard Firnas in a 1900m dirt handicap, the Jebel Ali Port, the pair denying the Frenchman aboard McFancy as the Bin Ghadayer team celebrated a second 1-2 on the card. A gelded son of Dubawi owned by Ahmad Ghalita Almheiri, the 8-year-old was posting his third consecutive victory and remains unbeaten this season after a pair of 2000m dirt Meydan victories, a handicap and, most notably, the Listed The Entisar.

“He has always worked like a good, honest horse and is really showing on a racecourse what he shows us at home," said Bin Ghadayer.

Gervais continued the fine form of Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, who celebrated a Meydan treble last Thursday, with a smooth success under stable jockey Connor Beasley, in double form seven days ago, in a 1400m dirt handicap, the P & O Marinas.

The JAFZA, a 2410m turf handicap, was won easily by Godolphin’s Global Heat, always travelling well under Pat Cosgrave riding for Saeed bin Suroor and able to record a second career success at just the eighth attempt on this, his seasonal debut.

“He is a nice horse and we were keen to try him over 2400m and there is a carnival race for him in four weeks, but he will stay further as well so we have options," said Bin Suroor.

The finale, a 1400m turf handicap, the Mina Rashid, provided the perfect opportunity for Ismail Mohammed to open his account for the season, with Wasim, who he also owns, landing the spoils despite refusing to settle for Mickael Barzalona.