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| Staff Writer |
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Rebel's Romance continued Godolphin's early-season monopoly on Middle Eastern turf racing on February 17 at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Qatar, defeating a strong international field and returning to his Breeders' Cup-winning form.
Taking the successive three positions in the finishing order, Japanese runners gave notice.
The 6YO Dubawi gelding, trained by Charlie Appleby, was well-represented in the 11-horse field, came up to a tough spot in the straight, and easily won by two lengths. He completed the 2,400 metres on decent turf, or approximately 1 1/2 miles, in 2:28.84.
Following Rebel's Romance, Zeffiro, Satono Glanz, and North Bridge reported in that sequence. Russian Emperor, a Hong Kong-based racer who won last year, had to settle for fifth after losing by six and a half lengths.
Point Lonsdale, Coolmore's best chance, battled traffic the entire way, finishing last thanks to jockey Ryan Moore's ease.
"He really enjoyed it. It wasn't plan A, but Charlie was keen to go forward from stall 10," Buick told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Declan Schuster. "He relaxed lovely in front, and it wasn't so long ago he won a Breeders' Cup Turf, so he's somewhere near back to his best, and it's great to come to Qatar and to ride a winner."
The field was stacked with elite talent, and Rebel's Romance's triumph signified a turnaround, even if the Trophy is only considered a grade 1 event locally.
He finished first in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Trial and UAE Derby (G2) in 2021, and over the second half of 2022, he amassed an impressive record. Following two victories over weaker opposition at Newmarket and Goodwood in England, Appleby sent him to compete against the finest in Germany.
In response, he won the Preis von Europa (G1) in Cologne and the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) back-to-back. This took him to Keeneland, where he won the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) by rolling home first, ahead of Stone Age by 2 1/4 lengths, followed by War Like Goddess in third.
Rebel's Romance had a poor year in 2023. She finished seventh in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) in March. In July's Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course, she clipped heels and unseated jockey Richard Mullen, the race's starting favourite. Finally, in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at the Belmont during the Big A meeting in October, she finished fourth, losing to War Like Goddess.
To prepare for the trip to Qatar, Appleby gave the gelding two months off before bringing him back on the Kempton Park all-weather track on December 13 in a minor stakes race, which he easily won.
Rebel's Romance's comeback on the track at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai is part of a continuous success story for Godolphin, Appleby, and Buick. Over the World Cup Carnival, the trio has been nearly unbeatable at home, helped sporadically by Saeed Bin Suroor, Godolphin's second trainer.
In addition, Godolphin has strong odds in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2T) and the Neom Turf Cup (G2T) on February 24 in Saudi Arabia. Their strong field may include Rebel's Romance, scheduled for World Cup night on March 30.
If Rebel's Romance is well enough to return, Appleby suggested that the Sheema Classic, one of the year's most vital fields, would be a contender. Then he gestured to another North American summer campaign.
Douglas Whyte, the trainer of the Russian Emperor, said that a cut sustained during the race and a slow pace that favoured the winner hurt his charge's chances.
"It was a courageous effort," Whyte told the HKJC. "The winner was gifted the race. It was just a languid tempo and looked like an on-pace-dominated track all day. He's probably one of the only horses who has made ground from near last, and he's run home in good order."
Saffie Osborne rode Emaraaty Ana to victory in the Dukhan Sprint the day after she had achieved the first-ever victory for a female rider in Dubai.
At 1,600 metres, or roughly one mile, Brave Emperor defeated Cairo and Real World to win the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, and Oddyssey scored a goal for the home team in the Al Rayyan Mile.