Rebel's Romance continues courtship with Royal Ascot
Rebel's Romance is trainer Charlie Appleby's favourite horse and the two-time Breeder's Cup Turf winner endeared himself further when he won the Hardwicke Stakes.
Described as an 'absolute dude' by jockey William Buick Appleby's last runner of the week delivered the trainer's first win at Royal Ascot since a 1-2 three years ago to the day.
'It is a huge honour to have a horse like this,' said Appleby, whose winner was the first seven-year-old to win the race in 102 years.
'This was the horse we needed with the last roll of the dice, he is a battler.
'He is more than our iron horse he has kept the yard afloat this week.
'He is our stable's favourite and always will be.'
Appleby, who began the season with a bang winning both the English 1000 and 2000 Guineas, shrugged off the ending of the losing run.
'Of course it is not a matter of life and death,' said Appleby, who has taken his tally to 16 Royal Ascot winners.
'If you look at the bigger picture and beyond racing you have got to take the losses and take positives out of it.
'It is the equine Olympics.'
Appleby's mother Patricia was present and concurred with Buick that Rebel's Romance was a 'dude of a horse'.
She also brought her son perhaps the required good omen.
'It has been a very long wait,' she said.
'Last time I wore this yellow dress was when Charlie won the Melbourne Cup (2018) and I have not worn it since.'
Buick has had a far better week than Appleby, landing amongst other races the Ascot Gold Cup for the same owners, Dubai ruler His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin Operation.
'He is a dream horse. Any jockey fortunate to have in his career a horse like this is blessed,' said the 36-year-old Norway-born jockey.
Meanwhile, Lazzat gave France their first winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes denying Japan their maiden win at Royal Ascot as the gallant Satono Reve finished second on Saturday, the final day of the meeting.
Lazzat's victory rounded off a superb week for owner the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing, a final day double -- both ridden by James Doyle -- taking their tally to five.
Lazzat was France's last hope of salvaging something from the week -- indeed their other two runners in the race fared badly, Sajir being withdrawn and the other Topgear losing two of his horse shoes.
The winner was still in feisty form post winning as he shied away from someone coming to him with a blanket like a matador and dumped Doyle on the turf.
Doyle -- described as 'world class and a brilliant guy' by Wathan's racing manager Richard Brown -- dusted himself down as his 26th Royal Ascot winner disappeared into the distance.
'I cannot take any credit at all,' he said modestly.
'Jerome (Reynier the trainer) was very confident, I could tell Satono Reve was coming alright but you won't get a more genuine horse than this.'
Satono Reve lost little in defeat under Joao Moreira -- known as 'the Magic Man' -- and did better than the previous 10 Japanese runners at the meeting, all of whom had finished outside the first three.
'We came in with a lot of confidence but unfortunately bumped into a very good horse.
'I thought I had him but he had another gear. My horse ran really well.'
'We're best friends.'
Doyle had begun the day with a bang as Humidity emulated his full brother Holloway Boy in 2022 landing the Listed Chesham Stakes for Wathnan Racing. Qatar's joy was Godolphin's despair as hotly fancied favourite Treanmor -- who cost 2million euros ($2.3 million) -- never threatened.
A special day for the winners but also for Dean Sutherland, who has worked at Ascot since June 1981, firstly at the golf course then on the gardening team.
Agencies
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Rebel's Romance continues courtship with Royal Ascot
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They say good things come to those who wait, and for Charlie Appleby, that truth rang louder than ever at Royal Ascot on Saturday. After three years of near-misses and simmering disappointment Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby finally returned to the Royal Ascot winner's enclosure on the final day, thanks to the stable's globetrotting superstar, Rebel's Romance. In a moment dripping with drama and relief, Appleby's last roll of the dice became a royal flush. The master of Moulton Paddocks struck gold in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, an elite middle-distance test run over 2400m, and a fitting finale to a week of drama. This was Appleby's first winner at the Royal meeting since Naval Crown landed the Platinum Jubilee Stakes in 2022. After watching 11 runners fall short throughout the week, it was his 12th and final shot, and a magical horse to deliver it. Rebel's Romance, already a living legend in blue silks with seven Group 1 victories, confirmed his status as one of the finest ever to represent Godolphin, producing a powerful performance under William Buick to leave rivals trailing. It was the cherry on top of an already glittering career, and perhaps his most meaningful win yet. The seven-year-old gelded son of Godolphin's prized stallion, Dubawi, surged clear two furlongs from home, igniting a roar from the fans as he hit the front. Irish raider Al Riffa tried to close the gap under a strong ride from Dylan McMonagle, but the outcome was never in doubt. Rebel's Romance cemented his legacy as a Godolphin great and gave his team a moment they'll never forget. 'We had one more roll of the dice - and what a partner,' said a visibly emotional Buick after the race. 'He's a dream horse, and any jockey that is fortunate in their career to have a horse like Rebel's Romance is blessed, and I'm blessed.' 'He travels the world, he's recognised everywhere, he's won more than £10 million in prize money and he's a top-class racehorse. You don't find many with a will to win like he has. I always say he finds a way. He's my best friend.' Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Appleby didn't hold back in his praise either. 'What more can I say about this horse?' said the Derby-winning handler. 'He's been a huge credit to the team back home. When it's your last roll of the dice, he's the horse you need. He's more than our Iron Horse - he's kept our yard afloat this week. He's our stable favourite and always will be.' 'He's a worldwide superstar. Full credit to the horse first and foremost, and to the team. It's been a tough week, but that's what you expect when you come here. It's the Olympics.' And like the Olympics, triumph at Royal Ascot is often fleeting and often brutally difficult to grasp. 'You can come here fully loaded and walk away with excuses, that's racing,' added Appleby. 'I was taught from a young age to applaud every winner and enjoy your own. I know how hard it is just to get a horse here, let alone to win.' And what a horse this is. Rebel's Romance has now amassed 13 Group wins, including seven at Group 1 level, across five countries: the USA, Germany, Hong Kong, the UAE and now the UK. His 18 career victories make him the most prolific horse in the royal blue silks, clear of Anamoe (14) and Lemon Pop (13).
