On a day where connections worldwide were treated to the very best racing in the UAE, Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran out a shock 28-1 winner of the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
It was a race of contrasting emotions for two of the powerhouse stables in Europe as Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), sent off a 5-4 favourite, trailed home in last.
But the day belonged to Rebel's Romance, who was placed prominently by Buick throughout. Appleby revealed after the race that his big-race jockey set out to ride the GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner handily, knowing that there was a lack of pace in the contest, and the plan was pulled off to perfection.
The trainer said, “Rebel's Romance is a Breeders' Cup winner and a four-time Group 1 winner coming into the race and we were a 28-1 shot so that shows you the strength and depth of this race. William said he had a plan and we were confident the right thing to do was go forward on him.”
Appleby added, “I was very confident down the back that William was in the right spot because the fractions just weren't that quick and William knows this track so well. Most importantly I'm delighted for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and to have a winner tonight is a great relief. It was a great ride by William.”
Buick echoed the sentiments of his trainer in his post-race debrief and showered the winner with praise.
“He showed in Qatar what a versatile horse he is,” Buick said. “His best form has usually been when he's held up but in Qatar I tried something new. I was keen today to adopt a similar tactic and I got a lovely slipstream from the leader.
“He's a very good horse on his day and he showed that today. I'm absolutely delighted; he's a great horse and I'm so glad he's back to his best.”
Reflecting on the importance of Godolphin registering a win on the biggest day of the year in Dubai racing, Buick said, “You know His Highness wants to see the best horses come to Dubai and the best horses are here. These races are incredibly hard to win so of course I'm incredibly happy.
“It's great for the team, great for everybody. It's great to be here and it's great to ride a winner. It's an amazing training performance and a great job by the whole team. I'm in the fortunate position to be able to ride these horses.”
Meanwhile, O'Brien was left scratching his head as to why Auguste Rodin failed to fire. The multiple Group 1 winner never managed to land a blow with the master of Ballydoyle labelling the race as a “non-event”.
O'Brien said, “It was a bit of a non-event really. The race just developed into halves so we just want to put a line through the race really. Ryan just said he felt he wasn't happy where he was or anything. They just never activated at all so it was a bit of a non-event. It was just one of them where it didn't happen.”
Pedigree Notes
Saturday was a big day in the desert for the Listed Height Of Fashion S. runner-up Minidress (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), as her 4-year-old son Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was only just over a length away from providing her with a Group 1 feature double in the Dubai Turf. Already successful in the G1 Jebel Hatta and G2 Al Rashidiya, that fellow Appleby trainee is adding further gravitas to the dam's burgeoning reputation among the Godolphin broodmare ranks.
Also responsible for the listed-placed Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Minidress is a full-sister to the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy winner Volcanic Sky (GB) with their dam being John Greetham's G3 Musidora S. winner and G1 Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks-placed Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat {GB}). Bought by the operation for 1.4million gns at the 2006 Tatts December Mares Sale, she is a daughter of the excellent producer Much Too Risky (GB) (Bustino {GB}) whose four stakes winners are headed by the G2 Prix de Pomone winner and Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian).
Whitewater Affair is herself the dam of the multiple Group 1-winning Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), another from the family to excel on this card having won the Dubai World Cup, as well as the G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Asakusa De'nen (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). Minidress has a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire) to come.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
LONGINES DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC-G1, AED6,000,000, Meydan, 3-30, 3yo/up, 12f 11yT, 2:26.72, gd.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick.
$3,480,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 9 1/2-11f,
MG1SW-Ger, GISW-US, GSW-Eng & Qat, 18-12-0-0,
$7,972,415. *1/2 to Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire;
and Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), SP-Eng, G1SW-UAE,
$730,166. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shahryar (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Dubai Majesty,
by Essence Of Dubai. O-Sunday Racing Co. Ltd; B-Northern
Farm (Jpn); T-Hideaki Fujiwara. $1,200,000.
3–Liberty Island (Jpn), 120, f, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–Yankee Rose
(Aus), by All American (Aus). O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd;
B-Northern Farm (JPN); T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida. $600,000.
Margins: 2, 1, NK.
Also Ran: Justin Palace (Jpn), Emily Upjohn (GB), Point Lonsdale (Ire), Junko (GB), Stars On Earth (Jpn), Simca Mille (Ire), Sisfahan (Fr), Spirit Dancer (GB), Auguste Rodin (Ire).
Click for the ERA chart & video.
Jaw-dropping display!
Rebel's Romance rules supreme in the @Longines Dubai Sheema Classic for @godolphin #DWC24 pic.twitter.com/xOhpglb5Ur
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 30, 2024
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