True to the patronage of Qatar’s HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani it was Godolphin who had Rebel’s Romance take out the HH The Amir Trophy, presented by Longines.
In fact, was it the honour of Godolphin in racing their Breeders’ Cup Turf hero at Al Rayyan Racecourse in recognition that the HH The Amir Sword Festival continues to gain international status.
Again in the hands of Wiliam Buick for Newmarket based Charlie Appleby, Rebel’s Romance scored a comfortable three length victory over 10 runners in being an International Group 3 event.
Run in a time of 2-28.84 over 2400m on a good Turf track, it was Rebel’s Romance racing in third from the start, sitting behind the two Japanese runners in North Bridge and Satono Glanz.
In making a move to take the lead on approaching the first turn, Rebel’s Romance kept on strongly into the home straight, where he increased his distance over the field to score very easily.
Second was the Shadai Race Horse owned Zeffiro, sired the champion Deep Impact, in being ridden by Joao Moreira for Yasutoshi Ikee, while Satono Glanz was third ridden by Yuga Kawada.
Now first-up since winning the Wild Flower Stakes in December, he won five-from-five in 2022 in not only the Longines BC Turf but also the German Gr1’s Preis von Europa and Peris von Berlin.
A 6yo brown home-bred gelding, he is by their highly successful Dubai in being from the stakes placed winning Street Cry mare Miniskirt, the family of Japan’s Victorie Pisa, Asakusa Dene’s
The Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman M Al-Thani owned Odyssey scored a comfortable two-length victory in the Al Rayaan Mile for 3yo’s with Maxime Guyon in the saddle for Jassim Ghazali.
Now with three wins, he won by two lengths over the John and Thady Gosden trained Orne for Robert Havlin, with the Alban de Mieulle trained Soldier’s Gold in third with Mickael Barzalona.
Winning in 1-34.84 in a field of 14 runners, he’s by the Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International winner Ulysses from the winning Whipper mare Last Echo, family of European 2YO Chriselliam.
In making history as being the first female jockey to win at Meydan, the 21 year-old Saffie Osborne stepped-up again in scoring a head victory on Emaraaty Ana in the Dukham Sprint of 1200m.
Wearing the pink and blue of Barratt Racing, Saffie edged out the Alban de Mieulle trained Monsieur Noir, as like the winner is by Shamardal, being ridden by Oisin Murphy for Wathnan Racing.
The Godolphin owned and Charlie Appleby trained Mischief Magic was a half-length behind in third under jockey William Buick, with Adrian Beaumont of the Breeders’ Cup crowning the winners.
So what’s the standard of this HH The Amir Sword Festival with the HH The Amir Trophy won by Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf victor Rebel’s Romance, and Emaraaty Ana as a Group 1 winner.
In taking out the Haydock Sprint Cup, and Group 1 placed four times and second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, the 8yo gelding was just a 160,000 Gns buy at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Sale.
Sired by the French Derby and 2000 Guineas winner Sharmadal, the sire of Bule Point, he was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock in being the best of the stakes winning Cape Cross mare Spirit of Dubal.
The Irish Marketing Cup of 1600m on turf was another exciting finish with the Archie Watson trained Brave Emperor, ridden by Luke Morris, prevailing by a neck to defeat Cairo, Ryan Moore.
Winning first-up, he won six times last year at 1600m including the Premio Vittorio di Capua, and is by the 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior he’s the family of champion older miler Keltos.
