Rebel’s Romance: 2021 UAE Derby winner turned globetrotting turf star

Jul 20, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Rebel's Romance wins the 2021 UAE Derby (G2)

Rebel's Romance was a Triple Crown-nominated dirt performer before he became a global turf star (Photo by Coady Media)

Godolphin recently announced the retirement of celebrated globetrotter Rebel’s Romance, a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and earner of more than $15.6 million.

But Rebel’s Romance didn’t start out as a turf star. An early Triple Crown nominee in 2021, he made his first big splash on the world stage in the UAE Derby (G2) on dirt. He shipped to New York for the Belmont (G1), only to scratch after developing a hind leg infection.

Few could have imagined then that Rebel’s Romance ultimately would reinvent himself on turf, becoming a roving ambassador for Godolphin around the world. Aside from his U.S. exploits, the homebred went on to capture major races in Germany, Hong Kong, Qatar, and Dubai, as well as at England’s historic Newmarket and Royal Ascot.

The venerable eight-year-old remained in winning form to the end, racking up his 22nd career victory in what turned out to be his grand finale July 9.

Beloved by fans and connections alike, Rebel’s Romance is virtually an Appleby family member.

“He is like a pet,” Appleby recently told Godolphin.com.

Regular rider William Buick, aboard for all but a handful of his 32 starts, felt “immensely privileged to have been able to ride a horse of his stature.”

In honor of his retirement, let’s review the amazing career of Rebel’s Romance. Twice the gelding found himself at a crossroads, but found his way back to the heights again.

Heir to Godolphin greats

Rebel’s Romance is a tribute to the legacy of his Godolphin grandsires, all-time great Dubai Millennium and Street Cry. Rebel’s Romance is by Dubai Millennium’s son Dubawi and out of Street Cry’s stakes-placed daughter Minidress.

Street Cry was best known in later years as the sire of U.S. Hall of Famer Zenyatta, Australian supermare Winx, and 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Street Sense, but he was an outstanding runner himself. A top Derby contender of 2001, Street Cry unfortunately was ruled out by injury. He matured into an elite older horse, landing the 2002 Dubai World Cup (G1) and the Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Dubai Millennium excelled on the European turf before proving just as brilliant on the dirt. By romping in the 2000 Dubai World Cup, he fulfilled the grand ambition – or prophetic intuition – behind his name. Sadly, Dubai Millennium died in the spring of his only season at stud, but bequeathed a worthy son in Dubawi to carry on his line.

Triple Crown trail

Early in his career, Rebel’s Romance channeled his grandsires’ aptitude for dirt. He won his first two starts on all-weather tracks in Great Britain, notably beating a couple of future Group 1 winners in Anmaat and Bay Bridge at Kempton. That set him up for the Dubai Carnival at Meydan, where he made a winning dirt debut in the 2021 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial.

Rebel’s Romance was not as effective in Riyadh, finishing fourth in the Saudi Derby, but he roared back in Dubai. Thriving on the step up to about 1 3/16 miles in the UAE Derby, he romped by 5 1/2 lengths in fast time.

Although Rebel’s Romance scored points to clinch a spot in the Kentucky Derby, Godolphin already had a leading contender stateside in champion Essential Quality. The decisive consideration, however, was that Rebel’s Romance would appreciate more time to develop, and he passed on the first Saturday in May.

The 1 1/2-mile Belmont appeared to suit him, and the Godolphin brain trust was happy to pitch him in against Essential Quality. We’ll never know how Rebel’s Romance might have fared; he was convalescing in his stall as Essential Quality rolled in the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

A mid-career switch

Rested until the 2022 Dubai Carnival, Rebel’s Romance was expected to pick up right where he left off from the UAE Derby. Instead, he threw in back-to-back clunkers on the Meydan dirt. Dreams of emulating his grandsires in the Dubai World Cup were dashed.

Rebel’s Romance returned to Appleby’s headquarters in Newmarket to regroup. If he was no longer happy on dirt, could he have a future on turf? Rebel’s Romance swiftly answered in the affirmative in the Fred Archer S. at Newmarket, opening a whole new vista of opportunities. He added the Glorious (G3) during Goodwood’s summer festival, turned a Group 1 double in Germany, and took his first big international class test in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Younger stablemate Nations Pride went off as the Breeders’ Cup favorite, having proven himself in U.S. conditions. But Rebel’s Romance turned out to be the stronger contender. Rallying from far off the pace to win handily, he set a new 1 1/2-mile course record in 2:26.35 at Keeneland.

Star-crossed 2023

Rebel’s Romance brought a perfect 5-for-5 mark on turf into his 2023 campaign, which soon became star-crossed. Scratched from his intended comeback in the Dubai City of Gold (G2) on Super Saturday, he resurfaced in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) on World Cup night. He wasn’t at his peak off the layoff, and no match for Japanese phenom Equinox when a non-threatening seventh.

Not seen again until Saratoga that summer, Rebel’s Romance endured worse misfortune in the Bowling Green (G2). He clipped heels and unseated jockey Richard Mullen in a scary incident. Mullen was hospitalized with injuries, but thankfully recovered. Rebel’s Romance returned to action in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Aqueduct, only to trudge home fourth on unsuitably soft ground.

Back at the top of his game

Would Rebel’s Romance ever resume his upward curve? Appleby gave him a confidence-booster in the Wild Flower S. on Kempton’s Polytrack, and Rebel’s Romance responded. That victory in December 2023 served as a launching pad for global success in 2024, including an Eclipse Award as champion turf male.

After getting a new stamp on his passport in Qatar, where he won the H. H. The Amir Trophy (G3), Rebel’s Romance starred in the Sheema Classic on World Cup night. His world tour took him next to Hong Kong, and he added Sha Tin to his list of racecourses when flaunting his class in the Champions & Chater Cup (G1).

Back home in England, Rebel’s Romance sustained his only loss of 2024, but it was a valiant one as the third-placer in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Ascot. He got back in the winning groove abroad, regaining his titles in Cologne’s Grosser Preis von Europa (G1) and in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.

Rebel’s Romance expanded his portfolio in 2025 while also revisiting a few of his old haunts. He battled to victory on the stretch-out to 1 3/4 miles in the Yorkshire Cup (G2), scored a popular win at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke (G2), and crushed the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic to make up for his disappointment at Aqueduct a couple of years prior. Rebel’s Romance also repeated in Qatar’s Amir Trophy and made another trip to Hoppegarten to win the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) again, three years after his first trophy.

Bidding to join Hall of Famers Goldikova and Beholder as a three-time winner at the Breeders’ Cup, Rebel’s Romance finished second to the younger Ethical Diamond at Del Mar.

Going out on his terms

As the calendar turned to 2026, and Rebel’s Romance turned eight, he was clearly in the twilight of his career. Appleby was careful in his choice of targets, reiterating that he was on a race-by-race basis, and that the elder statesman would let them know when it was time to sign off.

Rebel’s Romance put on a show for the Dubai Carnival fans in the Feb. 28 Dubai City of Gold at Meydan, three years after he had to scratch from the same race. He skipped the Sheema Classic on World Cup night, where he had run fourth the previous year, and bided his time until the British summer.

Instead of mounting a title defense in an ultra-tough renewal of the Hardwicke, Rebel’s Romance found an easier spot in the Princess of Wales’s (G2) during the July Festival at Newmarket. He ground his way to a workmanlike victory over the same course where he first resuscitated his career, four years ago, in the Fred Archer.

“Although I know Rebel’s Romance inside out,” Buick said following the Princess of Wales’s, “I went through his race record again last night, and it is just phenomenal. He is an absolute top-class racehorse who has proven it in so many countries over so many years.

“Even looking at him going around the parade ring today, you see the presence he carries. I am very privileged for a horse like him to have come into my career. I have enjoyed him for a number of years now. And whether you are on him at the races or at home, he lifts you. He is just that sort of horse.”

His Newmarket win had the feeling of coming full circle, and connections decided to retire him a week later. Rebel’s Romance compiled a magnificent mark of 22 wins and three placings from 32 career starts. His $15.6 million bankroll also ranks him among the richest horses ever to race in North America – currently seventh on the all-time list, according to Equibase.

“We always knew this day would come,” Appleby told Godolphin.com, “but it’s nevertheless a very sad day for everyone at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin as a whole. Rebel’s Romance has proved an outstanding horse for so many years and has taken us on a journey that we will never forget.

“After yet another brilliant win at Newmarket last week, collectively we all discussed it and felt that now is the right time to call it a day.

“It has been an absolute honour to train such an amazing horse, who has been a dream to look after from the moment he arrived. My thanks must go to the whole team at Moulton Paddocks, who have done such a brilliant job of caring for him throughout his career.

“We have had some great days together and, wherever I am in the world, he is the one horse people ask me about. He built up a great following, and I was always touched by the reception he received across the globe. You dream of having a horse like Rebel’s Romance, and I am incredibly thankful to have been part of his story.”

Chris Connett, a traveling assistant for Appleby, shared his Rebel’s Romance memories with NYRA publicity.

“I was very fortunate to be with him for both of his Breeders’ Cup wins; especially the first one at Keeneland was very memorable. The trips to Germany and beyond were special.

“His demeanor suited it,” Connett said of his foreign adventures. “When he traveled, wherever he went, he’d just slot into a routine. A real once-in-a-lifetime horse. To win nine Group 1s and 22 of 32 runs and the longevity, is just phenomenal. You don’t see it at that high grade very often. He’s a very special horse.

“The most emotional one for me was the Hardwicke. Everyone knows him as a globetrotter, but for him to run at home in one of the premier races at Royal Ascot and for him to go out and win that got me fairly choked up.

“Pam Daily looks after him back in the U.K., and she absolutely dotes on the horse. I don’t think he minded being mothered,” Connett laughed.

Rebel’s Romance will continue to be doted upon in retirement, through the Godolphin Lifetime Care program.

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