Rebel's Romance, the eight-year-old gelding, added another victory to his remarkable career on Thursday by winning the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket's July festival. The win brought his career earnings to £12.12 million, closing in on the European-trained all-time record of £12.7 million.
32nd Start, 22nd Win
Starting for the 32nd time, Rebel's Romance secured his 22nd career victory, including multiple Group One wins across the globe. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the horse has raced in San Diego, Hong Kong, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Qatar, and now Newmarket. Jockey William Buick, who has ridden him in 18 of those wins, expressed amazement at the horse's achievements.
“I went through his race record again yesterday just to remind myself and it is amazing and outstanding,” Buick said. “Very few horses compete at that level in so many different countries for such a long time. His career earnings, his career wins and his Group One wins. His CV is incredible.”
Thriving in Heat
The race took place in 33-degree heat, but Rebel's Romance, a veteran of races in Qatar and Dubai, handled the conditions well. He won by half a length as an odds-on favourite, despite a 131-day layoff since his last race in the Gulf in late February. Buick noted that the horse maintained a relentless gallop to the line once asked to pick up the pace.
Appleby likened watching Rebel's Romance compete to “like watching one of your kids on sports day at school.” The trainer said the horse still shows enthusiasm and will dictate when it's time to retire. “He'll tell us the day that he doesn't want to do it anymore, and he showed today that he still wants it,” Appleby added.
Breeders' Cup Turf Target
Rebel's Romance is likely targeting the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November, where he has already won twice. A third win would make him the first three-time winner of the race and the first European-trained horse to surpass £14 million in prize money. Appleby said they will take it race-by-race, but the horse's enthusiasm will guide their plans.
Unlike top sires like Frankel or Galileo, Rebel's Romance was gelded before his two-year-old debut, meaning he will not leave a legacy in pedigrees. However, his on-track achievements have made him a fan favorite and a testament to longevity in Flat racing.
Friday's Falmouth Stakes
The July festival continues on Friday with the Group One Falmouth Stakes. Aidan O'Brien's Precise, a dual Group One winner this season, is expected to start as odds-on favorite. However, recent history shows that odds-on shots in this race have not been reliable, with four of six beaten since 2012. Jancis, at around 12-1, is considered an over-priced contender after a strong finish in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
