By Tom Frary
Sunday sees Cologne's G1 Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung Preis von Europa, for which the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) would have been a warm order, but there is still intrigue with Godolphin's 2022 title-holder Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in attendance. Having covered himself in glory when third in a red-hot renewal of Ascot's July showcase event, the winner of five top-flight events including a Breeders' Cup Turf and a Dubai Sheema Classic appears as good as ever and that should be enough despite the presence of Liberty Racing's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Gestut Rottgen's G1 Preis der Diana heroine Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Gestut Ittlingen's multiple group winner Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}).
“Rebel's Romance heads back to Germany in great shape and we are hoping this can be a springboard for the Breeders' Cup again,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “Goliath not running changes the complexion of the race slightly, although we still have two German Classic winners in the field receiving a lot of weight from the older horses. You always have to respect the opposition at this level, but Rebel's Romance has won this race before and can hopefully go and do it again.”
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