Rebel’s Romance ready to roll back the years again

Globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance and his stablemate Talk Of New York, one of the leading fancies for this year’s 2000 Guineas, are just two of the big names in action on Emirates Super Saturday at Meydan.

Having found only Ethical Diamond too strong when bidding for a third Breeders’ Cup Turf success in November, Rebel’s Romance will be widely expected to make a successful return to the UAE in the Group Two Dubai City Of Gold, a recognised trial for the Sheema Classic title he won two years ago.

“Rebel’s Romance returns to Dubai in great shape,” Appleby said.

“He is eight now, but you couldn’t knock his performances last season and he appears to have retained all his enthusiasm throughout the winter. I’m hoping that he can show us once again what he can do and everyone can appreciate what a great racehorse he is.”

Rebel’s Romance’s rivals include Ed Walker’s course winner Fort George and the James Owen-trained Burdett Road, who did little wrong when second on his Dubai debut in early January before finishing down the field in the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh.

“It didn’t go to plan at all in Saudi, but he’s come out of the race well,” said Owen.

“He’s been based in Dubai anyway, so he didn’t have too far to travel. I’ve been over here all week with him and he looks great and is training well.

“Rebel’s Romance will be very hard to beat, but we’re in the mix to get some prize-money. He ran very well on his first run out here so hopefully we can get him back to that sort of form.”

The first Group-race action of the night comes in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, which sees Simon and Ed Crisford’s Cover Up test the water over six furlongs after dominating the Dubai Dash and the Blue Point Sprint already this winter over five.

“He finished off so well in his last race and he has run over six before, we just felt we’d give it a go,” said Ed Crisford.

“He’s in super form and it looks like he’s in the right spot if he can see out that extra furlong.

“He loves this track and it will be interesting to see him over six. He wasn’t stopping in the Blue Point, I’m sure he’ll run his race and it looks a suitable spot for him to be in the mix anyway.”

The Crisford team are also represented in the Group Two Singspiel Stakes, with Quddwah stepping up to nine furlongs for the first time following a slightly disappointing effort in the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup.

His rivals include Johnny Murtagh’s Alakazi, the Karl Burke-trained Holloway Boy and the hat-trick-seeking Dividend, trained in partnership by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole.

Crisford added: “The extra furlong shouldn’t be a problem for him – his dam (Sajjhaa) won in Dubai over this trip and he’s in super form.

“He didn’t really get a clear run in Abu Dhabi. He was drawn badly and he was on the wing and he ran a nice race, but I just felt circumstances went against him.

“He’s in great order, he did well on this track in January and I’m sure he’ll run a very solid race.”

The action concludes with the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas, in which most eyes will be on Talk Of New York, who is disputing favouritism for the Guineas at Newmarket following his explosive debut at Kempton in October.

Appleby, who also runs Pacific Avenue, said on the Godolphin website: “There has been plenty of chat about Talk Of New York following his maiden win and we feel he is a nice horse in the making.

“He is the least experienced horse in the field and this will be another step in his education, as well as hopefully giving us a guide on what sort of horse we are dealing with when he heads back to Europe. He had a spin around Meydan, just to get used to the place, and we were very pleased with what we saw.

“Pacific Avenue didn’t really get the rub of the green on his latest start in the Al Rayyan Mile, but it was still a solid performance, and he came out of the race well. He doesn’t look out of place in this field and we are putting some cheekpieces on him to hopefully rekindle some of his better form.”

Ed Crisford is looking forward to running Title Role, who looked the part when winning the Jumeirah Guineas Trial over the course and distance.

He said: “He’s a really solid horse and he’s just improved all winter long.

“There’s a couple of unexposed horses like Talk Of New York and you don’t know what they’re going to end up being – I think he’s nearly favourite for the 2000 Guineas now – but our horse is in super form and improving with each run and he’s in a nice spot.”