Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance romps in Doha
Rebel’s Romance, who struggled through much of 2023 after winning the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf, has returned to Group-level glory with a win in Saturday’s Group 3, US$2.5 million H.H. The Amir Trophy at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha, Qatar.
Rebel’s Romance was always forward under jockey William Buick, and held a defined lead over a keen Satono Glanz going into the first turn. Buick kept him rated on the lead until near a quarter of a mile out, when he asked for more. He maintained his lead to the furlong mark, and increased his lead under a drive by Buick in the final eighth of a mile. For the 1 1/2 miles over turf rated good, Rebel’s Romance stopped the timer in 2:28.84.
Late-running Zeffiro, who drifted out badly in upper stretch, corrected course in time to overhaul Satono Glanz for place but proved no match for the winner. North Bridge, defending champion Russian Emperor, Simca Mille, Haunted Dream, Jeff Koons, Israr, Passion and Glory and Point Lonsdale completed the order of finish.
Trained by Charlie Appleby for owner-breeders Godolphin, Rebel’s Romance is a 6-year-old gelding by Dubawi out of the stakes-placed Street Cry mare Minidress. He came into Qatar’s richest race off of a victory in the Wild Flower Stakes over the all-weather at Kempton on Dec. 13.
Sent off the 4-5 favorite in a field of eight, he won for the first time since his Breeders’ Cup triumph. His three other starts in 2023 included a seventh-place finish in the Sheema Classic (G1), an incident where he unseated his rider in the Bowling Green (G2), and a fourth-place finish to War Like Goddess in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).
Appleby is considering the Sheema Classic and then a summer campaign in the United States for Rebel’s Romance according to a report by Alan Carasso of Thoroughbred Daily News.
Earlier in the card, jockey Saffie Osborne continued a red-letter weekend. One day after becoming the first woman to ride a winner at Meydan, she guided Emaraaty Ana to victory by a head over Monsieur Noir in the $400,000 Dukhan Sprint, a six-furlong turf race.
The 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mischief Magic was third for trainer Charlie Appleby. The TDN report also indicated that Appleby is considering bringing Mischief Magic back to the United States as well.