Romance of the Cup proves short-lived for York hero

Rebel’s Romance, Godolphin’s most successful horse in training, broke new ground with a first victory over a mile and six furlongs in Friday’s G2 Yorkshire Cup.

The Eclipse Award winner was trying a new trip having notched seven G1 wins over a mile and a half, including becoming the first horse to win non-consecutive renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

In outbattling Epic Poet by a head on the Knavesmire, Rebel’s Romance took his record to 17 wins from 25 starts, with his glittering CV including success in six different countries.

A campaign in staying races is not on the agenda however, with a return to his favoured 12 furlongs in store for the globetrotting star, including potential trips to Germany and Canada.

Last season’s 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner Notable Speech made a promising return to action as he finished fourth behind fellow Dubawi colt Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini and Rosallion in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The first four home are set to re-oppose in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Notable Speech expected to improve for his first outing since the Breeders’ Cup.

Symbol Of Honour took his record this year to three wins from four starts with a professional display in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes on the same Newbury card. A step up to Group company beckons for the progressive sprinter, possibly later this week in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes.

The signs look bright for Godolphin’s early two-year-olds, with Treanmor booking his Royal Ascot ticket with a comprehensive debut success at Newmarket on Sunday. Dance To The Music made a winning introduction at the same course 24 hours earlier in a race won by Mawj in 2022.

Ghaiyyath colt Bedouin Prince was also on the scoresheet at Newmarket’s Spring meeting as he easily defied a penalty, while fellow three-year-old Bennu impressed in Japan when taking a dirt allowance race at Tokyo by seven lengths.

The form of the Kentucky Derby received a boost as Journalism, second to Sovereignty in the Run for the Roses, captured the Preakness Stakes in remarkable fashion with a last-gasp win over Gosger.

Gosger’s trainer Brendan Walsh endured a frustrating weekend at Pimlico as Paris Lily was also collared close home in Friday’s feature, the G2 George E Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.