Godolphin call time on superstar Rebel Romance’s stellar career

Godolphin have announced the retirement of their globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance.

Just last week the eight-year-old claimed his 22nd victory from 32 starts when delighting the Newmarket faithful in the Group Two Princess of Wales’s Stakes on the July course.

His tally of nine Group One wins includes two triumphs in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (2022 and 2024) and success in the Dubai Sheema Classic (2024) – and while most of his biggest days came on foreign soil, he also landed notable wins at home in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Yorkshire Cup last year.

Speaking on the Godolphin website, trainer Charlie Appleby said: “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.

“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, collectively we all discussed it and felt that now is the right time to call it a day.

“It has been an absolute honour 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 throughout his career.

“We have had some great days together and, wherever I am in the world, he is the one horse people ask me about. 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.”

William Buick steered Rebel’s Romance to the majority of his wins during a career which saw him earn over £12million in win and place prize-money.

Buick said: “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. He proved time and time again to be an outstanding horse and I cherish the moments that we have 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.”