Rebel’s Romance wins his second Breeders’ Cup Turf. Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire
Breeders’ Cup Closer Look
One casual chat with jockey William Buick and it is easy to see how much his favorite pupil Rebel’s Romance (IRE) means to him. Since first partnering with the 17-hand, nearly black son of Dubawi’s October 2020 debut, the two have traveled the globe and done more than conquer, upping the star’s bankroll to nearly $15 million and winning races that were Group 1s or worth seven figures in the USA, UAE, Germany, Qatar and Hong Kong. More importantly, especially to Buick and trainer Charlie Appleby, Rebel’s Romance has become a fan favorite through his six seasons of racing, including five stateside races.
“It’s amazing to go after history with him, but he’s also an amazing horse, when it comes down to it,” Buick said. “I think a lot of credit has to go to Charlie Appleby and his team for being able to keep him at the level he has been throughout most of his career and to keep him as interested and as happy as he is in still doing the job. Credit to the horse, but also credit to the people behind him.”
The two will seek not only to make the 20-time victor from 29 starts an unprecedented three-time winner of the $5 million Longines Turf, but also the G1-winningest Godolphin runner in history. His win last out in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) put him at nine top-level tallies, tied with Godolphin’s Aussie legend Anamoe (AUS) and teetering the 7-year-old on the brink of immortality.
“He just gets on with his job and is ultra-professional,” Buick continued. “He just wants to do his job well, go home and get ready for the next time and, believe it or not, with those types of horses, it’s easy to grow attached them—especially because he’s been around for so many years.
Chasing a hat-trick #TeamGodolphin’s globe-trotting superstar Rebel’s Romance returns to the @BreedersCup Turf! Here’s hoping he can add a 10th G1 victory to his incredible resumé this weekend at @DelMarRacing! #BC25 pic.twitter.com/ThLBhUk101
— Godolphin (@godolphin) October 29, 2025
“I suppose, also, because he did go missing for a few months and just wasn’t performing very well for a year earlier in his career, when we were questioning whether he was going to come back to himself, he did. He came back to his very best and more and I’m just amazed at his adaptability. He won the (2021) UAE Derby (G2) by 5 lengths—and he’s a grass horse—and I know that’s a long time ago now, but it’s something that’s very important to mention because it shows you how versatile and classy the horse is.”
The last time Rebel’s Romance and Buick teamed up was in the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) on July 26—a race that still burns for Buick. Stuck down inside and trapped for most of the running, he was never able to extend himself and wound up a frustrated third behind Europe’s top-ranked older horse, Calandagan (IRE). The loss denied him a much-sought-after English Group 1—something that means a great deal to the team around him. It was one of just two losses this year from seven starts, with the other being a fourth in a failed defense of the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). Because of scheduling conflicts, he was ridden by Billy Loughnane when winning August’s Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) and Frankie Dettori when taking September’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).
“The King George left a bitter taste in our mouths, and I felt so sorry for the horse, honestly,” Buick said. “He just couldn’t show any of his true quality. In hindsight, I would have gone out on my own and made the running, but with a perceived pacemaker in the race, that would have been suicide.
“In the (2024) Sheema, the year before, we had the perfect run of the race, following a pacemaker setting even fractions and we got the jump and kicked home, but this year, I think it was just a very differently run race that didn’t go our way,” Buick continued. “He still ran very well and wasn’t beaten far for third, especially after things weren’t very easy on him in his previous race in Qatar, which did not help. That said, even when he doesn’t win, he still runs a very good race. That’s the kind of horse he is. He gives everything.”
2024 Champion and Chaters Cup winner REBEL’S ROMANCE moving beautifully over the Del Mar turf ahead of the @BreedersCup World Championships.
— Hong Kong Racing North America (@HKRacingUS) October 30, 2025
Is he your pick in the Turf on Saturday? pic.twitter.com/DZzr6kGyI1
Appleby echoes those sentiments, truly believing that Rebel’s Romance is every bit as exceptional as they can possibly come.
“It’s been an extreme pleasure to be part of his great journey,” Appleby said. “To have a horse like him be as good as he has been for this long, especially. He’s still running at the top level and more importantly running well and winning. He still is holding his own at the Grade 1 level. From my point of view, he’s been so enjoyable and brought us so much.
“Physically he looks fantastic,” Appleby continued. “Obviously, there’s no improvement there at his age, but he has maintained his form and it’s so rare in racing for us to see a fully developed Thoroughbred like him still racing like he is with such mental strength and experience. That’s why he’s been able to do what he’s done. Most retired at three and four and it just goes to show that there’s still a lot of maturity that goes on as they age. With him, we have been fortunate to see that.
“He’s a beast of an animal and has such presence,” Appleby concluded. “His enthusiasm is second-to-none and he looks exceptional going around there. He steps out onto that track and he means purpose every day. He brings to the Breeders’ Cup table experience and an abundance of it. The best part for us, though, as a team, is to take him around the world and see what it means to everyone else when he wins.”
