Boodles Yorkshire Cup |
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| Group 2, York 15:45 £180,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 5f 188y, Class 1  |
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1 Rebel's Romance 11/10F
2 Epic Poet 7/1
3
Sweet William 100/30
5 ran Distances: hd, ¾l, ½l
Time: 3m 7.88s (slow by 11.28s)
Just enough!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 16, 2025
Rebel's Romance wins the Boodles Yorkshire Cup 🏆#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @godolphin | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/e2MnTd5Kc9
Charlie Appleby’s jet-setting stalwart Rebel’s Romance made a triumphant homecoming at York, digging deep to land race in classic style. Though the seven-year-old has sprinkled big-race wins from Doha to Del Mar—twice topping the Breeders’ Cup Turf—his visits to Britain are rare treats.
Fresh from a seasonal win in Qatar and a fourth in the Sheema Classic at Meydan, he headed to the Knavesmire as the 11-10 favourite, William Buick poised to judge his move. Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous, outfitted in blinkers for the first time, set a measured gallop up front, Buick tagging in his slipstream as the pair stretched out over the Yorkshire plain.
As they straightened, Buick angled Rebel’s Romance wide. The field of five fanned across the track, but none could match his will. He edged clear in the final furlong—Epic Poet and Sweet William lunging on—but held firm by a head and three-quarters of a length.
Appleby, ever the globe-trotting optimist, beamed:
“He’s built his own fan club around the world, and you can see why. After a few runs over a mile and a half, I wanted to be sure he still had that turn of foot. The steady pace suited him—he found that kick just when it mattered.”
Looking ahead, Appleby has mapped out a continental summer:
“No more jet-lag just yet. We’ll stay in Europe, maybe Germany or the Coronation Cup, before heading back across the pond later in the season. He thrives on a bit of respite—go steady, and he’ll sprint when called.”
York’s Yorkshire Cup is usually the stage for emerging stayers. Today, Rebel’s Romance reminded everyone he still has plenty left in the tank—and that, even at seven, the old globetrotter knows exactly how to finish.
Boodles Yorkshire Cup (Group 2)
(British Champions Series)
£180,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 5f 188y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2) Rebel's Romance 7 9-8 Charlie Appleby William Buick 11/10F
2 (5) hd Epic Poet 6 9-3 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 7/1
3 (4) ¾ Sweet William 6 9-6 John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin 100/30
4 (1) ½ Alsakib 5 9-3 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 14/1
5 (3) ½ Continuous 5 9-3 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 9/2
