Class and courage tell as Rebel’s Romance strikes in G2 Yorkshire Cup

Rebel’s Romance notched his 12th Group-race success, and first victory over a mile and six furlongs, with a determined display in the G2 Yorkshire Cup at York, UK, on Friday, 16 May.

Stepping up to beyond 12 furlongs for the first time, the Charlie Appleby-trained seven-year-old broke smartly and soon raced in a two-length second as the 2023 St Leger winner Continuous set steady fractions for the five-strong field.

Rebel’s Romance closed to within a length at the top of the straight, with William Buick electing to switch the seven-time G1 winner over towards the stands’ rail, away from the leader, approaching the final three furlongs.

Sweet William and Epic Poet tracked Rebel’s Romance and challenged both sides of the Godolphin runner, with Continuous rallying and Alsakib staying on as all five looked to hold chances a furlong and a half out.

Rebel’s Romance established a slender lead entering the final furlong and responded gamely for pressure, seeing off Epic Poet’s late lunge to prevail by a head, with less than two lengths covering the entire field at the line.

Charlie Appleby said: “Rebel’s Romance is an honour to us all. To train a horse like him, you would not mind half a dozen of them. It would make life a lot easier!

“We all know what he is capable of over a mile and a half, but we did not want to be dragging him back overseas at this time of the year, so we felt we should try him over an extended trip.

“I always think when they go that steady and it turns into a sprint, it gives all of them a bit of a chance, and that was the case from two furlongs down. I knew once they got to the shoulder of him, he would find again because that is typical Rebel’s Romance.

“We were sitting on the fence about what we might do, but William has said afterwards that he is a mile-and-a-half horse, not a mile-and-six one.”

William Buick added: “It was a very slow pace. We were thinking that we might have to do it ourselves from the front, but I was very happy to take a lead over this trip. Rebel’s Romance is a quick mile-and-a-half horse, he’s world class, and a dream to ride.

“Nothing really suited him there – it was a messy pace – and I had to make a move at some stage. With a class horse like Rebel’s Romance, he doesn’t go from first gear to second and third, he goes from second gear to fourth straightaway. He lasted home until the line and was genuine, as he always has been. He’s a pleasure to ride and a dream horse.

“We wanted to get today out of the way and learn a little bit about him, but I think mile-and-a-half races are still firmly on the radar.”