By Tom Frary
Godolphin's beloved stalwart Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) has done wonders for Sheikh Mohammed and Charlie Appleby down the years, but Sunday ensured that he will be forever sacred for Billy Loughnane too as he provided the young jockey with a first Group 1 success.
Sent off the 1-5 favourite for Hoppegarten's Westminster 135th Grosser Preis von Berlin that began his top-level-winning spree three years ago, the seven-year-old was made to fight by Junko (Intello) to bring up an eighth victory in this company but was equal to every call as usual to score by 3/4 of a length.
“It's a feeling I can't describe, it's a feeling of ecstasy, what a horse and I'm very lucky to be riding in these colours and riding a horse like this,” Loughnane said. “He's a superstar and has been going for a good few seasons now. Big thanks go to William Buick–I spoke to him last night and he told me exactly what to do.”
Loughnane, whose tally for Appleby is eight from 12 this season, had also won the Sweet Solera at Newmarket on Saturday. Charlie Appleby said, “It's great for Billy, but more importantly great for the horse who keeps sparkling on all continents. To have him carry on at the top level is fantastic for Sheikh Mohammed and I see this as a pre-cursor for the Canadian International at Woodbine and then the Breeders' Cup.”
A global superstar! 💙
REBEL'S ROMANCE retains his Grosser Preis von Berlin crown in Germany to earn his eighth G1 for @godolphin. #WorldPool | @wettstar_de pic.twitter.com/RhKqkxfbQ7
— World Pool (@WorldPool) August 10, 2025
Pedigree Notes
The epitome of Dubawi's ability to produce high-class international stars with longevity, Rebel's Romance is one of two top-level winners for the Listed Height of Fashion Stakes runner-up Minidress (Street Cry) alongside the Jebel Hatta scorer Measured Time (Frankel). Minidress, who is a full-sister to the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy winner Volcanic Sky, is out of the G3 Musidora Stakes winner and Oaks third Short Skirt (Diktat) who in turn is a daughter of the excellent producer Much Too Risky (Bustino).
Her four Stakes are headed by the G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitewater Affair (Machiavellian), in turn the dam of the triple Group One-winning Victoire Pisa (Neo Universe) and the Yasuda Kinen hero Asakusa De'nen (Singspiel). Minidress's two-year-old is a full-brother to Rebel's Romance named Fortitudine.
Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany
WESTMINSTER 135TH GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, Hoppegarten, 8-10, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:27.81, gd.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 132, g, 7, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby; J-Billy Loughnane. €100,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW-US, G1SW-HK & UAE, MGSW & MG1SP-Eng, GSW-Qat, 27-19-0-1, €11,747,132. *1/2 to Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G1SW-UAE, GISW-US & SP-Eng, $1,568,523; and Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Junko (GB), 132, g, 6, Intello (Ger)–Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere; T-Andre Fabre. €30,000.
3–Cold Heart (Brz), 132, h, 5, Alpha–Netherlands (Brz), by Point Given. O/B-Fazenda Mondesir; T-Peter Schiergen. €15,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, 6. Odds: 0.20, 5.00, 13.40.
Also Ran: Nastaria (GB), Straight (Ger), Narrativo (Ger).
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