Rebel’s Romance scoring his first Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2022. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
On Rebel’s Romance and Notable Speech
Breeders’ Cup Closer Look
What Rebel’s Romance has taught Appleby about training: “What’s he taught me training? Resilience. Certain people have asked me about what makes him that special horse in Godolphin’s rich history of having such great horses and it’s to see a 7-year-old still winning Group 1s and not just certain jurisdictions—he’s done it around the world. People can say he’s been well-placed, but I’d like to think he’s been placed to win. Whether it’s well-placed, or not, he’s done it in the UK, America, Hong Kong, Dubai, Qatar and Germany. Unfortunately, he walked out of the UK without a Group 1 win, but what he showed winning the Hardwicke (G2) at Royal Ascot and in the Yorkshire Cup (G2) was something great for the English fans and racegoers to see; to enjoy what he does so well. Very few horses, when they’re in the red zone, will find what he does. He gives you everything.” —Charlie Appleby
Assessing his Turf competition: “We are fully aware that there are going to be young legs in the race and Minnie Hauk (IRE) being obviously the most respected out of all of them from what she’s achieved at that level. That being said, those who want to sort of row against him, good luck to them. He’s been there and he’s done it and I can assure you that when he walks around the paddock, there will be no better specimen of a racehorse walking around there as far as his physique and what he’s accomplished on the track. And when they go up against him on the track, they’re going to know they’ve had a race. He won’t go out there and lie down easily.”
Why he was originally gelded, considering he is impeccably bred and a good-looking horse: “To be honest with you, he was a bit of a character, which a lot of the family are. We have his full-brother in at the moment, a 2-year-old, and he’s probably doing well to keep hold of his (testicles), but I’m having to hold fire. At the end of the day, I’m a big believer that you can either stand them up for a painting or you can stand them up to be a racehorse. Sometimes the cruelest cut is the best cut. Had we have not done that; he wouldn’t be there today having a crack at a third Breeders’ Cup Turf.”
Putting the attempt at a third Turf into perspective: “He deserves to have a crack at it. I could not leave this horse behind. If you would see him at home and the enthusiasm he shows, I would have been sick if I had left him at home (at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, UK). He’s in the condition of his life—I’m confident of that—and if he achieves it, that’s what he deserves. I’m lucky to be piggybacking on the back of him, basically, and it would be great for racing, great for the horse and great for the Breeders’ Cup. He’s had a lot of success in America, and I feel he’s got his well-deserved fan base behind him.”
Assessing his disappointing run in the King George (finished 3rd) that included a rough trip: “That’s racing, and I’ve seen enough of it now, but I think in any sport, you have to appreciate that you’re not always going to get the rub of the green and that’s what happened in the King George where he got boxed in there, but that’s the name of the game. Let’s just hope we get a bit of luck around Del Mar.”
Globetrotting REBEL’S ROMANCE leads the Godolphin string out to the Turf course. pic.twitter.com/RRByd7QLz9
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 29, 2025
On his Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) victory last out: “Being who he is, he goes in there off the back of a nice win in the Joe Hirsch, a race we have wanted to win, ourselves, and it most importantly suited him on quick ground. He won previously in Germany in his final preps before winning this the past two Breeders’ Cup Turfs (2022 and 2024), but unfortunately the ground conditions weren’t there to suit for us to do that again, so he went to New York and did what he did. He has come out of the race very well.”
Thoughts on drawing post 1: “Tactically, he’s versatile and I wasn’t concerned with where he was drawn. It looks as though there’s pace on paper at the moment, but you never know until the race happens. I tend not to overcomplicate things and overthink it before the race. From that draw, you’d like to pop and be forward, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
On Notable Speech:
His form this year compared to last year: “He had a long campaign, remember, as a 3-year-old, because he didn’t race at 2 and he started his season in January. We were learning about the horse, ourselves, and we know what he is now. He’s a quick horse who can get quicker and has a massive acceleration. That’s why I was keen to get him to Woodbine for a race like the Woodbine Mile (G1) because he ticks all those boxes. I wanted to get him around those turns and give him valuable experience coming into this weekend.”
Regarding his latest two runs, a nose second when appearing much the best in France’s Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville and a facile victory in Canada’s Woodbine Mile (G1) at Woodbine: “As I said to William (Buick), critics will be there when you don’t win and you’re supposed to win, but with that, I did tell him before the race in Deauville that he’s a horse you have to ride cold and let him show that finish. And, of course, the critics were there because we didn’t get our heads in front. In the end, when you let this horse show what he’s capable of doing, he has a killer acceleration and running style, but in doing so you have to have a lot of luck. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for him in France, but he didn’t need that much luck at Woodbine—but he’s going to need a lot of luck on Saturday.”
On strategy from post 2: “He has a nice stall, but again he’s going to need to use that and can’t step a stride slow out of the gate. But in saying that, the other thing is that he’s the sort of horse where if you’re too close and sat second and all of a sudden, the speed collapses in front of you, the last place you want to be turning in is on the lead. I’d rather him running at them instead of them running at us.”
Comparing him to his previous trio of Mile winners: “He’s more in the fashion of a Space Blues (IRE) model of Dubawi (IRE), as opposed to Modern Games (IRE) or Master of The Seas (IRE). He travels for fun and has plenty of speed.” — Charlie Appleby
