Rebel’s Romance enhances legendary status with Europa prize

Rebel’s Romance posted another major success during his 2024 world tour as he claimed the G1 Preis von Europa for a second time at Cologne on Sunday.

The six-year-old has made five starts in five different countries so far this year and was adding to his wins in Qatar’s G3 H H The Amir Trophy, the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and the G1 Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong.

In notching a sixth top-level success, Rebel’s Romance becomes the most prolific G1 winner for his sire Dubawi, one ahead of his former stable-mate Modern Games. He is also the only horse to post G1 victories in three different countries this year.

Rebel’s Romance, who won the Preis von Europa for a first time during a sensational 2022 campaign, moves up to joint-second on Godolphin’s all-time list of G1 winners alongside two fellow international stars – Daylami and Fantastic Light. All three horses captured the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Rebel’s Romance will be hoping to become only the third dual winner of the race at Del Mar in early November.

Improving three-year-old Wild Goddess gained valuable Listed Black Type when scoring at Craon on the same day, while Mountain Song went close to G3 success at Chantilly on Saturday as she went down by a head in the Prix Bertrand de Tarragon.

Windsor maiden winner Midnight Thunder maintained his upward profile as he readily defied a penalty at Yarmouth on Tuesday. Fellow two-year-old colt Shadow Of Light missed Saturday’s G2 Mill Reef Stakes following a deluge at Newbury and could instead line up in this weekend’s G1 Middle Park Stakes.

Godolphin opened its doors to the public in Newmarket and Victoria on Sunday. Visitors to the Henry Cecil Open Weekend got the chance to see how horses transition after racing at Godolphin Rehoming, while Hartnell proved the star attraction at Carbine Lodge as part of the Flemington Stables Tour.