Rebel's Romance

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.

Background

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.

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.

Racing career

2020: Two-year-old season

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. He followed up with a four-length victory at Kempton Park Racecourse as the 11/10 favorite. His management then shipped the horse to the Middle East to continue his campaign rather than turn him out for a spell over winter.

2021: Three-year-old season

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.

On February 20, in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby in Saudi Arabia, Rebel's Romance finished fourth to the Japanese-bred Pink Kamehameha. Charlie Appleby was disappointed with the effort, commenting later, "We were expecting a better run than in Saudi."

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. 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.

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." 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.

2022: Four-year-old season

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.

2023: Five-year-old season

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. 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.

On July 30, at Saratoga, the horse clipped heals 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.

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. The horse scored a victory in his final race of the season, the Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton held at December 13.

2024: six-year-old season

After his win in Qatar, he won the 2024 Dubai Sheema Classic.

Statistics

Pedigree

* 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.

References