Rebel's Romance would give Godolphin a strong Derby pair

Perhaps somewhat overshadowed by the excellent performances of top older horses Mishriff and Mystic Guide, as well as the tragic death of Zenden, Rebel’s Romance announced himself as a horse of the future with a dominant performance in the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan.

In so doing, the son of one of the world's great sires, Dubawi, earned 100 qualifying points toward entry into the Kentucky Derby. That’s more than enough to ensure a spot on the first Saturday in May if his connections choose to ship the Godolphin homebred to America.

Owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been chasing a victory in the Kentucky Derby for decades, but this year could be different for his UAE Derby winner, as his stable also has current favorite Essential Quality – the undefeated champion already on course for the run for the roses in the U.S.

After the impressive victory in the $750,000 UAE Derby, Rebel Romance’s trainer, Charlie Appleby, remained noncommittal about a trip to Kentucky.

“The Kentucky Derby will be a nice conversation to have over the next 10 days,” said Appleby. “Thankfully, Godolphin has a very special horse over there in Essential Quality, who looks as though he might have the Kentucky Derby within his grasp. The long-term aim with Rebel’s Romance will be to work back from next year’s Dubai World Cup.”

While a run in next year’s $12 million Dubai World Cup makes perfect sense for the young Irish-bred gelding, it is still a full year away. It would seem hard to pass up such an attractive prize as the Kentucky Derby, in the here and now, with a horse who is clearly getting very good.

After running a mile in each of his first four starts, Rebel’s Romance stepped up to a distance that Appleby thought he would appreciate on Saturday.

Traveling wide throughout the race, run at about 1 3/16 miles, he relaxed early in 12th-place under top European rider William Buick. Midway through the race, Rebel’s Romance made a big move on the outside as he began to quickly pass horses. By the time the field of 14 hit the stretch, he was in third and still moving strongly.

He kept the momentum going and collared the race favorite Panadol more than a furlong from the wire. From there, it was just a matter of how much his winning margin would be. Rebel’s Romance powered by and cruised to the wire an easy 5 1/2-length winner to raise his career record to four wins in five starts.

The victory allowed Rebel’s Romance to join a strong list of recent UAE Derby winners, which includes: Toast of New York, Mubtaahij, Lani, Thunder Snow and Mendelssohn. All of those former winners from the last decade came to America to race in big events, with only Toast of New York skipping the Kentucky Derby.

With Dubai World Cup night signaling the end to the rich racing at Meydan for the season, taking a shot with Rebel’s Romance in a big dirt race in America makes plenty of sense. Having never raced on turf before, he is clearly primed to take on the task of one of the Triple Crown events.

He also is a horse who wants to run a distance, unlike many in the U.S. who will enter the starting gate at Churchill Downs. Out of a Street Cry mare, the 10 furlongs of the Kentucky Derby should be no problem, nor should the 12 furlongs of June’s Belmont Stakes.

Trained and ridden by two of Europe’s best, and owned by perhaps the world’s top global outfit, Rebel’s Romance would be a welcome addition to this year’s Kentucky Derby. His powerful performance in the UAE Derby was one of the most impressive runs so far seen on the Derby trail.

If he does come, Godolphin would have their best chance yet at an elusive Kentucky Derby victory, armed with a very strong global pair in Essential Quality and Rebel’s Romance.