By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's 2021 G2 UAE Derby hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) ended a two-race losing streak with victory in June's Listed Fred Archer S. at Newmarket, adding to his resume in Goodwood's G3 Glorious S. last month, and justified favouritism for a career high in Sunday's G1 Westminster 132nd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten. The March-foaled gelding, unbeaten on the turf, was positioned in rear with just one rival behind for most of this 12-furlong test. Scrubbed along to reduce arrears off the home turn, the 17-10 pick launched his challenge out wide with 350 metres remaining and stayed on strongly under continued rousting inside the final furlong to hold the late rattle of Nerik (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) by a neck in ultimately snug fashion.
“He had a different start to most of our horses and we initially trained him for the dirt,” explained winning rider James Doyle. “He ended up winning the [G2] UAE Derby and I have to say it seems like he's definitely improved for the switch to turf. He came into today's race relatively unexposed, he'd only had a couple of starts on turf and he's taken to it well. He was a bit boisterous beforehand and I wanted to make sure that he was relaxed properly first. He travelled round pretty smoothly, they didn't go much of a pace and I ended up a little bit further back than ideal. He showed a good kick at the top of the straight and I thought he did a super job there today.”
Rebel's Romance, who becomes the 53rd Group 1 winner for his sire, is the leading performer out of Listed Height Of Fashion S. second Minidress (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), whose three scorers include Listed Cairn Rouge S. third Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Minidress is a full-sister to G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy victor Volcanic Sky (GB), with both being produced by G3 Musidora S.-winning G1 Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks placegetter Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat {GB}). Rebel Romance's third dam is the excellent producer Much Too Risky (GB) (Bustino {GB}), who has four stakes winners to her credit headed by G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian), herself the dam of the multiple Group 1-winning Dubai World Cup hero Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) and G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Asakusa De'nen (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). Short Skirt's three-parts brother Little Rock (GB) (Warning {GB}) annexed the G2 Princess of Wales's S. while Much Too Risky is kin to G1 Irish St Leger hero Arctic Owl (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}) and G1 Sydney Cup winner Marooned (GB) (Mill Reef). Minidress has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB) to come.
Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
WESTMINSTER 132ND GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, Hoppegarten, 8-14, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.33, gd.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 132, g, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & UAE, 10-7-0-0, €460,123. *1/2 to Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nerik (Ire), 122, c, 3, Ruler Of The World (Ire)–Nazbanou (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Stall Nizza; B-Ursula & Jurgen Imm (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €30,000.
3–Ardakan (GB), 122, c, 3, Reliable Man (GB)–Alaskakonigin (Ger), by Sternkonig (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 Ylg '20 BBAGS). O-Darius Racing; B-Gestut Rottgen (GB); T-Markus Klug. €15,000.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.70, 7.40, 10.90.
Also Ran: Alter Adler (Ger), Northern Ruler (Ger), Assistent (Ger), Nastaria (GB), Virginia Storm (Ger). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
🤩 the day has started very well for @godolphin with a G3 winner already in France and Rebel's Romance taking the G1 Grosser Preis con Berlin in Germany.
pic.twitter.com/rjEbnouO5W— TDN (@theTDN) August 14, 2022
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