3 minute read
Easily the most exciting Godolphin trainee to start thus far this season is sophomore Rebel's Romance, who lines up in Thursday's UAE 2000 Guineas Trial.
An enthralling prospect going into the classics season--thanks to two eye-catching victories in as many starts and a pedigree that appears dirt-friendly--the son of Darley Europe's Dubawi will be favoured in the 1600m affair for trainer Charlie Appleby.
"He's a Dubawi, he's two from two on the synthetics and his work has been pleasing," Appleby said. "He travelled later than the rest of the team there, but he seems to have settled in well. Like any of our horses, the first step onto the Meydan surface there is going to new to them all, but he goes there with a bit of experience from his two runs."
Debuting over one mile with promise, the maternal grandson of Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry (and half-brother to 2019 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas fourth Dubai Beauty) took to the Newcastle all-weather with aplomb on Oct. 26, switching leads in the final furlong and stretching clear nicely under William Buick. The gelding was a 9/2 third-choice that day, but returned just over three weeks later at Kempton as an odds-on favourite, winning in kind by four facile lengths. The time for one mile was a smart 1:37.95--just .65 off the standard--and his Timeform rating of 110p was the highest all-weather rating for any UK juvenile in 2020.
Watch Rebel's Romance 's debut HERE.
"He's a nice, big, scopy individual," Appleby continued. "Time and possibly a step up in trip down the line is going to suit him, as well. It's all about experience or gaining experience on Thursday. He's the highest-rated horse in the race and he has a profile that's going the right way at the moment. We're far from sitting on the fence with him. We're pleased with him, he's a good-looking individual who's done well and we're hopeful of a big run, bar inexperience with the surface."
Among his chief rivals will be Zhou Storm, 2-for-2 for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, as well as dominant Jebel Ali debut winner Mouheeb and another Godolphin-owned Kempton victor, Rich Waters, who defeated subsequent G1 performer Megallan on Sept. 4 for Saeed bin Suroor.
Appleby concluded: "He's drawn eight (of 11) and there's pace around. I see in the 10-box there's (Zhou Storm) of Ali's, who looks like he likes to get on the lead. As usual, there will be a fair pace on the front end. We'll have to see how our fellow gets on. He's a big lad, so he's not the sharpest out of the gates, but once he gets into his rhythm, he's normally away. I'm looking forward to seeing him run."
