Eight years young and still brimming with enthusiasm, Rebel’s Romance delivered another stirring performance in the Dubai City of Gold, securing his 21st career victory in Saturday’s Group 2 feature at Meydan Racecourse. The evergreen gelding rolled back the years with a powerful late surge, reminding the crowd exactly why he remains one of the most admired performers on the international stage.
The 2410-metre turf contest drew seven rivals, yet from an early stage there was a sense that the nine-time Group 1 winner had matters well under control. Travelling smoothly throughout under William Buick, he loomed ominously turning for home before striking the front. Once in command, Rebel’s Romance dug deep to repel Fort George by a length and a half, sealing another memorable success.
Trainer Charlie Appleby was visibly moved.
“It takes a lot for me to get emotional, but I love him,” Appleby admitted. “I had my heart in my mouth just wanting him to get round safely. He’s just been a rockstar and we wanted to bring him here to show everyone what a great racehorse he is and he’s shown it again.”
The Dubai City of Gold offers the winner a pathway to the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic — a race Rebel’s Romance captured in 2024 — though Appleby struck a cautious tone when discussing future plans.
“It’s a nice conversation to have, but we will take it race by race,” he said. “He’s an old boy and we’re going to look after him.”
Rebel’s Romance Anchors Stellar Super Saturday
While Rebel’s Romance provided one of the emotional highlights, the evening belonged in no small part to the father-and-son partnership of Simon Crisford and Ed Crisford, who celebrated a remarkable treble.
Quddwah set the tone with a commanding victory in the Singspiel Stakes over 1800 metres. Ridden by Ryan Moore, the six-year-old was perfectly placed off a steady tempo before quickening decisively in the straight to defeat Dividend by two and a half lengths.
“There was no pace early,” Ed Crisford explained. “Ryan had him in exactly the right position and he won really well. We’ll see how he is, but the Dubai Turf will be the plan.”
The stable struck again 35 minutes later when Meydaan made an emphatic switch to dirt a winning one in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Classic. The son of Frankel, having his first start on the surface, powered clear for a five-and-a-quarter-length triumph over Walk Of Stars.
“We thought he might be outpaced early,” said Crisford, “but if he could keep the leaders in sight, he would finish strongly. William was taking a pull on the back stretch and I thought we were in business.”
The treble was completed in the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas as Title Role overhauled Pacific Avenue late, with the much-discussed Talk Of New York finishing behind the principals. Plans are now being mapped out for a return to Britain, with spring targets under consideration.
Elsewhere on the card, El Nasseeb underlined his credentials as a leading local sprinter in the Mahab Al Shimaal, producing a telling late burst to lower the colours of Dark Saffron by a length. Silvestre de Sousa judged matters to perfection, noting the strong early pace played directly into his mount’s strengths.
Commissioner King delivered a front-running masterclass in the Burj Nahaar, stretching four lengths clear of The Camden Colt, while Piana sprang a surprise in the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas with a determined success for Nicolas Caullery and Stephane Pasquier.
There was further drama in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, where Native Approach proved resolute after dropping in trip, and in the opening Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 for Purebred Arabians, claimed by the Oman-trained Falaah with a sweeping late run.
Carnival action resumes at Meydan next Friday with the Ras Al Khor headlining proceedings, but Super Saturday will long be remembered for Rebel’s Romance and a performance that blended durability, class and heart in equal measure.
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