Godolphin's International Star Rebel's Romance Retired

Rebel's Romance (IRE), one of Godolphin's most prolific superstars with nine top-level successes around the world, has been retired following his victory at Newmarket Racecourse last week. The British-trained 8-year-old gelding, honored as North America's champion turf male of 2024 after winning the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) that year, earned more than $15.6 million in purses. He captured 22 of his 32 races, with his final win coming in the July 9 Princess of Wales's Stakes (G2). He raced twice this year, winning both starts, with more than four months of rest coming between his start in the Feb. 28 Dubai City of Gold (G2T) and the Princess of Wales's. "We always knew this day would come, but it's nevertheless a very sad day for everyone at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin as a whole," trainer Charlie Appleby said. "Rebel's Romance has proved an outstanding horse for so many years and has taken us on a journey that we will never forget. "After yet another brilliant win at Newmarket last week, we all discussed it and felt now is the right time to call it a day. It's been an absolute honor to train such an amazing horse, who has been a dream to look after from the moment he arrived. My thanks must go to the whole team at Moulton Paddocks, who have done such a brilliant job of caring for him." Rebel's Romance, who captured his first Breeders' Cup Turf in 2022 at Keeneland, became the first horse to capture the race in nonconsecutive years when he took the 2024 renewal at Del Mar. READ: Second BC Turf Win Nets Eclipse for Rebel's Romance He secured a top-level North American stakes victory last year in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) ahead of a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He also secured group 1 or grade 1 victories in Dubai, Germany, and Hong Kong over the course of his illustrious career. Another North American summer-and-fall campaign had been considered ahead of his retirement. "We have had some great days together and, wherever I am in the world, he is the one horse people ask me about," Appleby added. "He built up a great following and I was always touched by the reception he received across the globe. You dream of having a horse like Rebel's Romance and I am incredibly thankful to have been part of his story." A homebred for Godolphin, Rebel's Romance is a gelded son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Street Cry mare Minidress (GB). He is among four winners for his dam and a half brother to grade 1 winner Measured Time (GB). While best known for his international exploits, which also included two wins in Qatar, Rebel's Romance had plenty of success in Britain, including when landing last year's Yorkshire Cup Stakes (G2) at York and Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. "Rebel's Romance has taken me on some great adventures and I feel immensely privileged to have been able to ride a horse of his stature," jockey William Buick said. "He proved time and time again to be an outstanding horse and I cherish the moments we've had together. "He was a wonderful horse to ride, with such a presence and a will to win, and an immense credit to everyone at Godolphin associated with him. His record across the world was phenomenal and I owe him a great deal." BloodHorse contributed to this story.