Rebel’s Romance seeks another first in G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

International superstar Rebel’s Romance bids to add a first UK G1 to his glittering CV in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday, 26 July.

Ascot’s midsummer highlight has been won by Godolphin luminaries Swain, Daylami, Doyen and Adayar, although a seven-year-old has yet to be successful since the race was inaugurated in 1951.

Rebel’s Romance is no stranger to rewriting the record books. The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Dubawi became the first horse to win non-consecutive renewals of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November and is also the only overseas runner to capture Hong Kong’s G1 Champions & Chater Cup.

His tally of 18 wins, including 14 in Group races, makes him the most prolific Godolphin horse in history, with seven-top level victories including three in Germany and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in addition to his North American and Hong Kong successes.

A valiant third in last year’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Rebel’s Romance returns having won three of his four starts this season, including comfortably taking the G2 Hardwicke Stakes over the course and distance at Royal Ascot.

Charlie Appleby said: “Rebel’s Romance goes into this in great order. There was plenty of strength in depth in this contest 12 months ago, when he ran a good race, and it looks a similarly strong renewal this time around.

“He is taking on younger opposition again but, wherever he finishes, the others will know that they have had a race.”

Dubawi filly Dance To The Music hopes to follow up a winning introduction for the same trainer in the G3 Princess Margaret Stakes earlier on the card.

The full-sister to three-time G1 winner Space Blues remains over six furlongs after overcoming signs of inexperience to score by a length at Newmarket in May.

Charlie Appleby added: “Dance To The Music has done well physically since winning at Newmarket. She is stepping up to Pattern company for the first time and it’s a fact-finding mission. The form of her race has worked out well and we are hopeful that she can be competitive at this level.”