Fire still burns brightly for Rebel’s Romance at Newmarket

Godolphin’s most decorated horse Rebel’s Romance added another chapter to his outstanding career as he registered career win number 22 in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival on Thursday.

Returning to the scene of his first turf victory in the Listed Fred Archer Stakes four years ago, the evergreen son of Dubawi displayed all of his usual enthusiasm to comfortably deny stablemate Arabian Crown.

Since his Fred Archer Stakes success, Rebel’s Romance has compiled a phenomenal CV, with nine G1 wins in Germany, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong – performances that have made the eight-year-old a hugely popular horse across the world.

His record in recent years has proven extraordinary. Since the start of his six-year-old campaign, Rebel’s Romance has won 12 of his 16 starts – including six victories at G1 level – with his only defeats coming in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (twice), Dubai Sheema Classic, and Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The chance for more big-race glory could be on the cards in the coming months, with potential trips to Canada and the United States under consideration before the tantalising prospect of another crack at the Breeders’ Cup.

Five royal blue winners at the July Festival also included improving stayer Valedictory, who captured Friday’s big heritage handicap, and a trio of promising juveniles.

Inner City Blues backed up an impressive maiden win as he captured Thursday’s G2 July Stakes, while Al Hudaiba looks set for G1 targets following his rallying success in Saturday’s G2 Superlative Stakes. Acting Lady was also on the scoresheet as she won a fillies’ maiden on Friday.

Blue Point colt Fraochan made a spectacular debut in Japan on Saturday, taking a Hakodate newcomers’ race by a full eight lengths under a hands and heels ride. Thunder Snow colt Bimbara was a comprehensive winner of a dirt maiden at the same course 24 hours later, with Military Tattoo continuing an unbeaten start to her career with victory at Kokura on Sunday.

Good Cheer had been off the course for nearly 10 months but last season’s Kentucky Oaks winner made a successful return to action at Prairie Meadows on Friday with a routine victory in the Iowa Distaff Stakes. Fellow four-year-old filly Kapoor gained a first Stakes success at Indiana Grand on Saturday, taking her career record to five wins from eight starts.