Godolphin’s globetrotting champion Rebel’s Romance has conquered the world in 2024, topping it off with a second Breeders’ Cup Turf when defying the strong Japanese challenge of Rousham Park and Shahryar in the US$5,000,000 feature at Del Mar.
Caught wide in the early running, William Buick pressed on to sit outside of the leader Cabo Spirit.
Taking control before the home turn, the son of Dubawi looked set for a dominant win before Christophe Lemaire emerged from the pack on the least fancied of the Japanese raiders, Rousham Park.
The 5-year-old son of Harbinger closed to within a neck with one and a half lengths back to the Deep Impact 6-year-old Shahryar in third.
The winner of the race two years ago at Keeneland, Rebel’s Romance has enjoyed another hugely successful year.
He has won the The Amir Trophy at Doha, Sheema Classic at Meydan, Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin and the Preis von Europa at Cologne. His only defeat came when third to Goliath and Bluestocking in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
An eleventh Breeders' Cup winner for Charlie Appleby, Rebel's Romance advances his record to 15 wins and a third from 22 starts.
"He's an incredible horse," Buick told Racing Post.
"He's such a joy to ride and a beautiful horse who has been expertly managed by Charlie Appleby and the team. He's an international superstar.
"We agreed to give him a positive ride but we managed to get a breather in. He kicked from the turn and when the competition came, he went again."
Gelded before his first start, Rebel's Romance is a half-brother to the Group 1 Jebel Hatta Stakes and Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes winner Measured Time (Frankel) and the stakes-placed Petticoat (Cape Cross) out of the stakes-placed Minidress (Street Cry).
