Rebel’s Romance Wins Again in Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf

DEL MAR, CA – Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance (IRE) ($5.80) surged to the lead on the far turn and then held off a late bid from Rousham Park (JPN) by a neck to win the 41st running of the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday afternoon at Del Mar. 

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Rebel’s Romance covered the mile and a half on a firm turf course in 2:26.07. It is the second win in the race for Rebel’s Romance, who was victorious at Keeneland in 2022. 

For Appleby it is his third win in the race and the second for Buick, who teamed with Appleby to win the 2021 running with Yibir (GB). 

Cabo Spirit shot out to the early lead, but by the time the field reached the first of three turns, Rebel’s Romance had drawn up alongside and hounded the leader through fractions of :24.33, :48.77 and 1:13.82. Going into the far turn, Rebel’s Romance shot to the front and opened a daylight advantage entering the stretch. 

He maintained that comfortable margin until deep stretch when Rousham Park was closing rapidly only to come up a neck short. It was another 1 ½ lengths back to Shahryar (JPN), who was third in the race for the second consecutive year. Gold Phoenix (IRE) was another 1 ¾ lengths back in fourth, his second consecutive year of finishing in that position. 

The victory was worth $2,600,000 and increased his earnings to $11,777,574 with a record of 22-15-0-1. 

Race Quotes

Winning trainer Charlie Appleby, Rebel’s Romance (IRE) – “I was pleased. I don’t need to tell William (Buick) how to ride this horse. He knows him inside-out. Throughout the race, I was pleased with where he was in his pitch and pleased to see to see him make the move that he did. He just keeps going and we had the momentum our way. Most importantly, full credit to all the team, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. A horse like this, he’s a superstar, he really is. You watch him run around there and you really feel it. You want him to win. 

“You see horses like him running around there and you really feel it because you want him to win. I’m just delighted for him and to win back to back Del Mar’s so we know he likes it here. For the mileage he’s done and the competition that he’s been campaigning at, that level for the time he has it takes a lot of guts.” 
 
“There are back-to-back Del Mars (Breeders’ Cups), so we know he likes it here. 
 
“For the mileage he’s done and to be campaigned at that level for so long, it takes a special horse.” 

Winning jockey William Buick, Rebel’s Romance (IRE) – “He’s just a legend of a horse who is all class and heart. We had a good run around and he stuck his head down to the line.” 

Hugh Anderson, representing winning owner Godolphin, Rebel’s Romance (IRE) — “We’ve got huge faith in him and he is now one of Godolphin’s greats. He’s won on numerous continents and has been a superstar. Huge congratulations to Charlie Appleby and the team and William (Buick) who gave him a brilliant ride.” 

Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka, second with Rousham Park (JPN) – “I was very close. That was the plan to let hm go on his pace at the early stages then make ground. He showed his turn of foot even if it was a slow pace.” 

Jockey Christophe Lemaire, second with Rousham Park (JPN) – “He ran well It was very close.” 

Trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, third with Shahryar (JPN) – “He was in good form and slow pace suited him. Drawn well in stall 3. The small track was a little bit difficult for him. It was unfortunate at the final bends but he is a 6-year-old. I would like to thank Shahryar. He will run one more race somewhere before he goes to stud in 2025.”  

Jockey Cristian Demuro, third with Shahryar (JPN) – “He ran very good. Del Mar was a little bit small track for him and he was hanging a little bit at the corners. He finished third again so still a good horse.” 

Jockey Kyle Frey, fourth with Golden Phoenix – “I thought I had the best trip I could get under the circumstances of the 12 post. I already know this horse loves this track, but he does love the rail, and if I could have been tucked up on the inside a little more, I would have been much better off. We lost a little bit of ground in the first and second turn, but man, he just came running and laid it down the whole way. I was really happy with how Gold Phoenix overcame the post position and also the odds.”