Rebel’s Romance heads $2.5m Qatar Amir Trophy

In this era of international racing its the Qatar $2.5m HH The Amir Trophy with Longines, that’s the season opener for Rebels’ Romance leading to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Returning from a 14 week spell, Rebel’s Romance last won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on 4 November, having opened 2024 in winning the HH The Amir Trophy on 17 February.

In between, it was victory by two lengths in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, before travelling to Hong Kong to score by two lengths in the Champions & Charter Cup.

Returning to Europe, next it was third to Goliath and Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, before winning his second Preis Von Europa.

Now a member of the elite club of winning two Breeders’ Cup events, Rebel’s Romance won his first Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2022, and having also won the Grosser Preis Von Berlin.

So what’s the road ahead in 2025 for this 7yo Godolphin home-bred, sired by Dubawi from the family of Dubai World Cp winner Victoire Pisa, through the stakes placed winner Minidress.

Enroute to his third Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, again at Del Mar, is it a repeat victory in the $2.5m HH The Amir Trophy with Longines, of 2400m on turf, again being ridden William Buick.

Jumping from Barrier 3 in the 8 runner field and carrying 58kg, its surprisingly for Newmarket based trainer Charlie Appleby that Rebel’s Romance last year was his first winner in this event.

Again, it will be the blue and white of Shadwell Estates who will be the main challenge, with the Owen Burrows trained Alflaila to be ridden by Jim Crowley, starting from Gate 4 also on 58kg.

In having run fourth to Spirit Dancer in the Bahrain International and winning the York Stakes, he’s a 6yo horse by top sprinting sire Dark Angel, the family of Manuela De Vega and Hero Look.

Also from Britain is the blue and white silks of King Power Racing, with their Churchill Stakes winner The Foxes, jumping from Barrier 7 with four-times British champion jockey Oisin Murphy.

Trained at Kingsclere by Andrew Balding, and a last start fourth to Romantic Warrier in the Longines Hong Kong Cup, he’s a 5yo half-brother to Matterhorn and Bangkok, being by Churchill.

In being the family of multiple Group 1 sire Ribchester, who shuttles to Haunui Farm in New Zealand, he was a 440,000 Gns buy at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearlings from Barronstown Stud.

From Japan is the dual Kyoto Shimbun Hai winner Satono Glanz who is looking for a return to form for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, having been behind the placegetters in his recent Group starts.

To be ridden by Christophe Soumillon from Gate 2, he’s a ¥115.5m buy at the 2021 Japan Select Yearling Sale, by Grand Prix winner Satono Diamond from Italian Oaks winner Cherry Collect.

Of course, no international meeting cannot now be without Whalton Racing, and its Qatar based trainer Alban de Mieulle who has Simca Mille in their blue with gold sleeves and red cap.

In being a winner of the Grosser Pris Von Berlin, he’ll be ridden by Maxime Guyon from the outside, being a €68,000 2020 Deauville Select Yearling, sired by dual Group I miler Tamayuz.

Wearing the gold cap is Mickael Barzalona on the London Gold Cup winner King’s Gambit, from 5 for Harry Charlton, having been a 125,000 Gns October Yearling, sired by Saxon Warrior.

Rounding out the Whalton three, and in the black cap is James Doyle on Qatar Derby winner Supercooled, in Gate 6 for Alban de Mieulle, being a €47,000 Lope de Vega Tattersalls yearling.