Rebel’s Romance aiming to secure another significant G1 prize in Ascot showpiece

Rebel’s Romance hopes to continue his sensational 2024 and register a first UK G1 victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, 27 July.

The six-year-old is unbeaten in five appearances in the UK, including the 2022 G3 Glorious Stakes, but has scaled greater heights internationally with success in Dubai, Germany, North America, Qatar and Hong Kong.

Rebel’s Romance followed up his Glorious Stakes success with a hat-trick of G1 wins in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, Preis von Europa and Breeders’ Cup Turf.

After a disrupted 2023, the son of Dubawi has returned to his best this season with dominant displays in Qatar’s G3 H H The Amir Trophy, the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and the G1 Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: “It’s great to be part of such a historic race. There looks to be plenty of strength in depth in this year’s renewal but we are very happy with Rebel’s Romance.

“He has earned his reputation on the international stage, and the only real omission on his CV is a G1 win in England. This looks a decent opportunity to fill that gap and he has come out of Hong Kong in great shape.

“Rebel’s Romance is a very uncomplicated horse these days and a true professional. It has been a faultless campaign so far and we feel he is a big player here.”

Devoted Queen puts her perfect record on the line in the G3 Valiant Stakes on the same card. The Kingman homebred scored at Newmarket on her only juvenile start and followed up a Kempton Park success in April with a two-length verdict in a York Listed race in mid-May.

G2 Coventry Stakes fifth Al Qudra returns to Ascot for the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes, a race that featured subsequent G1 winners Rosallion, Ancient Wisdom and Sunway 12 months ago.

Charlie Appleby added: “Devoted Queen has had a nice break since York and we feel that she is ready to step up into Group company. She goes into this on the back of a nice preparation and we are looking forward to seeing how she gets on.

“Al Qudra brings experience into the Pat Eddery Stakes and I think the step up to seven furlongs can hopefully produce more improvement. It was a solid effort in the Coventry Stakes and he looks a leading contender with this step up in distance.”