Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is hoping to add another GI Breeders' Cup Turf to his resume, after trainer Charlie Appleby gave a positive update on the 6-year-old gelding.
A winner of the 2022 edition, the star has won every start this year barring a third to Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. After prevailing at Group 3 level in Qatar, he added the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, and the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong two months later before his placed effort. His latest start was a victory in the G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne in September, and also holds an entry in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase.
“We purposely gave him a little bit of a break,” said Appleby. “We toyed with the idea of going to America, but we decided to stay a little bit closer to home and go to Germany for a race he'd won before and he spring-boarded from that into a Breeders' Cup win. If he goes there and ticks all the boxes whilst he's there, he's a big player.”
The 2024 G1 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), unplaced at Royal Ascot, won the G1 Sussex Stakes in July. He was only fifth to fellow royal blue colourbearer Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Moulin in September and is headed for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
He added, “With Notable Speech, his challenge is going to be the travelling and the week there. For a horse that as soon as you pull him out of his stable and he's as good as gold and you'd think he was a pony leading round, he challenges himself a little bit.
“What we did learn and what we were very happy with was what we saw at Longchamp. We learned he travels and settled in well and doesn't handle soft ground, so it was always going to be straight to the Breeders' Cup after that.”
Both stakes winner and GI Summer Stakes second Al Qudra (Ire) (No Nay Never) and G2 Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) will contest the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Breeders' Cup Friday.
Of the juvenile pair, Appleby said, “I genuinely can't split them on what they've achieved on the racecourse and it could come down to the draw.
“From William's (Buick) point of view, and we've spoken in depth over the few days, it's a hard one for him. He could go and pick either horse and get drawn 14, or if you're lucky and get drawn six you've got a chance.
“Looking at the field I think that's how it's going to play out, I don't think there's a standout horse in the race. Both have got plenty of experience and one has obviously got experience over there.”
The GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf also sees a double entry from Godolphin, with GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes heroine Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) and GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes victress Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) signed on.
“Cinderella's Dream and Beautiful Love are in the Filly & Mare. Both have got experience over there now, Cinderella's Dream has a higher profile being a Grade I winner out there and a Grade II winner on her last start. I feel she'll be a live player.
“The other filly will see the trip out well and deserves to be in the line-up after what she has achieved out there. She's a Grade III winner and you could probably say she was unlucky on her last start.”
Kodiac (GB)'s Star Of Mystery (GB), a multiple group winner and second in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night, will run in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. She ran second in the GII Franklin Stakes earlier this month.
He added, “Star Of Mystery is rock solid. She was just touched off the other day and was probably a bit unlucky, but I was relaxed watching it as it was very much a pipe-opener ahead of the Breeders' Cup.”
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