Second BC Turf Win Nets Eclipse for Rebel's Romance

Two years ago, Rebel's Romance  won the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland and later finished second in Eclipse Award voting for champion older turf male of 2022 behind his high-class stablemate, Modern Games .

Now following another victory in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Turf, this time at Del Mar—in which he became the first horse to capture the race in nonconsecutive years—he, too, is an Eclipse Award winner, announced as North America's champion older turf male at the evening ceremony at The Breakers Palm Beach Jan. 23.

Though the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance raced just once in North America last year, he excelled in his lone appearance— just as he had across the world in 2024. He won four other stakes races from five starts, including three group 1s: the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T), the Champions & Chater Cup (G1), and the Preis von Europa (G1). Only a third-place finish in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) left him with a loss in 2024.

Throughout the campaign, William Buick was aboard, having the classy gelding poised to strike. That was evident in the 2024 Breeders' Cup, when Buick had Rebel's Romance launch his move leaving the last of three turns, taking the lead and opening up in the stretch. Ahead by 3 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining, Rebel's Romance withstood hard-changing Japanese runner Rousham Park  by a neck. Favored in the field of 13, he stopped the clock with 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:26.07, capped by a final quarter-mile in :23.57.

"He's just a legend of a horse who is all class and heart," Buick said.

The victory in the $5 million race was worth $2.6 million and increased his earnings to $11,777,574 with a record of 15-0-1 in 22 starts.

"For the mileage he's done and to be campaigned at that level for so long, it takes a special horse," Appleby said.

Rebel's Romance's victory was the 20th for Godolphin at the Breeders' Cup, the most by an individual ownership entity after Immersive  earned their 19th win with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 1. The total for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's premier worldwide operation extends to 23 with additional wins under the banner of Darley Stud and Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum. 

A homebred for Godolphin, Rebel's Romance, now 7, is a gelded son of Dubawi  out of the Street Cry mare Minidress . He is the fourth of her seven foals and a half brother to grade 1 winner Measured Time . 

Speaking of Rebel's Romance, Godolphin COO Hugh Anderson said, "We've got huge faith in him and he is now one of Godolphin's greats. He's won on numerous continents and has been a superstar."