Rebel’s Romance Romps in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Godolphin‘s Rebel’s Romance captured the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Saturday with a commanding performance that showcased the veteran gelding’s world-class talent.

The 7-year-old son of Dubawi, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, secured his third Grade 1 victory on American soil with an effortless front-running triumph under Frankie Dettori.

After prompting Redistricting through an opening quarter in :24.78, Rebel’s Romance seized control as the half went up in :49.26. The gelding maintained a clear advantage through moderate fractions before accelerating around the final turn and drawing away down the stretch to win unchallenged.

“Flavien [Prat aboard Redistricting] was going too slow, I said let him slide,” Dettori explained after the race. “He was doing it on his own rhythm and I know he stays, so just half way down the turn when I went through the gears, he went. I didn’t need anything, I knew I was well clear. What a lovely horse.”

Alex Merriam, assistant to winning trainer Charlie Appleby, praised the performance of the globetrotting champion.

“Obviously, they went decent enough fractions to start it and when they tried to slow it up, Frankie said he let him stride on,” Merriam said. “He’s obviously a lovely, big horse, he’s got a big stride on him—there’s no point in holding him back. He just grinds it out and as you saw turning [for home], he gallops away. He’s a proper horse.”

The Godolphin homebred has established himself as one of racing’s premier international performers with Group 1 victories spanning four continents. His resume includes top-level wins in Hong Kong, Germany, and Dubai, along with his American triumphs.

Rebel’s Romance first made his mark in the U.S. by winning the 2022 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland. After a troubled trip in the 2023 GII Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga where he clipped heels and lost his rider, he returned to finish third in that year’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

The gelding then secured an Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Male following his second consecutive Breeders’ Cup Turf victory last November at Del Mar.

In 2024, Rebel’s Romance has continued his winning ways with group victories in Qatar and England before capturing the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August.

“He’s a very sound horse,” Merriam noted. “He’s very straightforward. He obviously was gelded early. It’s what to do with him—it’s what Sheikh Mohammed designed Godolphin to do, to have horses like him to travel around the world and he’s a flagbearer for Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin. That’s what it’s all about.”

A potential historic third consecutive Breeders’ Cup victory now looms on the horizon.

“He’s a very special horse. If he could win three Breeders’ Cups, I think it would be pretty special,” Merriam said. “I haven’t spoken to Charlie yet, but I presume that’s the plan. He ships home tomorrow and he’ll have a little quiet time at home and then we ship out to Del Mar the end of October I suppose. Fingers crossed.”

Rebel’s Romance comes from an accomplished family. Godolphin purchased his granddam Short Skirt for 1.4 million guineas at the 2006 Tattersalls December sale. The two-time group winner had finished second in the 2006 G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in that year’s G1 Epsom Oaks.

His 5-year-old younger brother Measured Time (Frankel) has added to the family’s international success with Group 1 wins at Meydan and in last summer’s GI Manhattan Stakes.

Redistricting finished second in Saturday’s race, with El Cordobes completing a Godolphin-trained exacta by securing third place.

The victory pushed Rebel’s Romance’s career earnings to $14,446,477 with a lifetime record of 20 wins from 29 starts.