Hardwicke Stakes
Group 2, Ascot 15:05 £250,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
Tweet Saturday 21st June 2025

1 Rebel's Romance 6/4F
2 Al Riffa 4/1
3 Ghostwriter 5/1
12 ran Distances: 1¾l, 1½l, 1¼l, dht
Time: 2m 28.23s (fast by 1.47s)

CHARLIE APPLEBY'S WAIT FOR A #ROYALASCOT WINNER IS OVER!

REBEL'S ROMANCE TAKES THE HARDWICKE STAKES! pic.twitter.com/aR19759kyu

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025

After a week of near misses and quiet frustration, Charlie Appleby finally had lift-off at Royal Ascot — and who else but Rebel’s Romance to come to the rescue?

The globe-trotting gelding, a serial headline act on international cards, showed the home crowd exactly why he’s considered one of the best travellers in the business, powering home under William Buick to land the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes in commanding fashion.

At 6/4 favourite, punters had their faith repaid, but it was the manner of the victory that really told the tale. Held together until the home bend, Buick pressed the button turning in — and the response was electric. Al Riffa kept on gamely in second, but the result was rarely in doubt. Ghostwriter, stepping into the unknown trip-wise, stayed on for a promising third.

For Appleby, it was more than just a winner. “If you’re not talking about Rebel’s Romance, you’re not watching racing,” he said, still glowing after the win. “He’s a superstar. I said to Mick Fitzgerald on the way in — I’ve got a picture of this horse on my bedside table. He means that much.”

The win snapped a Royal Ascot drought stretching back three years, a fact not lost on the Godolphin trainer:

“This is the Olympics. You come here with big hopes and often leave with excuses. That’s racing. But we regroup, we go again, and thankfully today, the old warrior got us across the line.”

And what a warrior he is: now an 18-time winner across six countries, including seven Group 1s, and over £10 million in earnings. Appleby again:

“We took him to York hoping people would see him for what he is — and now he’s done it on the biggest home stage of all. He’s carried us when we needed him most.”

Buick, a man rarely short of class in the saddle, was quick to share the credit: “This was our last real chance of the week, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Rebel’s Romance is a dream horse. We’ve shared some incredible days together — he’s more than just a horse, he’s a best friend.”

“When he hit the front, the place just erupted. He’s got fans everywhere — America, Dubai, Europe — and he knows how to put on a show. He’s got this will to win you don’t often see. He just knows where the line is.”

There was no shame in chasing him home. Joseph O’Brien had nothing but praise for Al Riffa: “He’s an exceptional horse. He runs to a high level every time. Maybe next we stretch him out a little further — he has the pedigree for it. But no disgrace losing to one of the world’s greats.”

Ghostwriter’s new connections were upbeat too. Kia Joorabchian, owner of Amo Racing, said: “That might be his best ever run, especially first try at that trip. The ground, the distance — he’s answered a lot of questions. I think he’s going to take us on some exciting adventures, maybe even overseas.”

“Look, when you’re beaten by a Sheema Classic winner, a Breeders’ Cup winner, a proper international beast — there’s no shame. I’m thrilled for Charlie. He’s broken his duck. Hopefully I’m next!”

Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
£250,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (11)    Rebel's Romance 7 9-3 Charlie Appleby William Buick 6/4F
2 (7) 1¾ Al Riffa 5 9-3 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 4/1
3 (2) 1½ Ghostwriter 4 9-3 Clive Cox David Egan 5/1
4 (6) 1¼ Palladium 4 9-3 2 John & Thady Gosden Ryan Moore 16/1
5 (5) dht Sunway t 4 9-3 David Menuisier Oisin Murphy 10/1
6 (12) ¾ Tabletalk 4 9-3 Tom Clover Rossa Ryan 25/1
7 (10) ½ Al Aasy 8 9-3 William Haggas Jim Crowley 12/1
8 (8) 6½ Burdett Road 2 5 9-3 James Owen Sean D Bowen 40/1
9 (9) 1¼ Bellum Justum p 4 9-3 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 33/1
10 (1) 1½ Space Legend 4 9-3 William Haggas James Doyle 25/1
11 (3) 9 Epic Poet 6 9-3 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 25/1
12 (4) 4¾ Candleford 3 7 9-3 William Haggas Tom Marquand 25/1

HARDWICKE STAKES WINNERS

YR/DATE GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2024 2 ISLE OF JURA George Scott Callum Shepherd Victorious Racing 4 9-03 16/1
2023 2 PYLEDRIVER William Muir & Chris Grassick P J McDonald 6 9-03 7/2
2022 2 BROOME A P O'Brien Ryan Moore M Matsushima & Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor & D Smith 6 9-03 6/1
2021 2 WONDERFUL TONIGHT David Menuisier William Buick Christopher Wright 4 8-12 5/1
2020 2 FANNY LOGAN John Gosden Frankie Dettori HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing 4-8-12 17/2
2019 2 DEFOE Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 5-9-01 11/4F
2018 2 CRYSTAL OCEAN Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Sir Evelyn de Rothschild 4-9-01 4/7F
2017 2 IDAHO Aidan O’Brien IRE Seamie Heffernan Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 4-9-01 9/2
2016 2 DARTMOUTH Sir Michael Stoute Olivier Peslier H M The Queen 4-9-01 10/1
2015 2 SNOW SKY Sir Michael Stoute Pat Smullen Khalid Abdullah 4-9-01 12/1
2014 2 TELESCOPE Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 4-9-01 7/4F
2013 2 THOMAS CHIPPENDALE Lady Cecil Johnny Murtagh Sir Robert Ogden 4-9-00 8/1
2012 2 SEA MOON Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Khalid Abdullah 4-9-00 3/1F
2011 2 AWAIT THE DAWN Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 4-9-00 4/6F
2010 2 HARBINGER Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 4-9-00 8/11F
2009 2 BRONZE CANNON John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Anthony Oppenheimer 4-9-03 8/1
2008 MACARTHUR Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor 4-9-00 11/8F
2007 2 MARAAHEL Sir Michael Stoute Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 6-9-00 100/30
06/24/06 2 MARAAHEL Sir Michael Stoute Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 5-9-00 9/2
*05/18/06 2 BANDARI Mark Johnston Willie Supple Hamdan Al Maktoum 6-8-09 10/1
04/19/06 2 DOYEN Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 4-8-09 6/5F
03/21/06 2 INDIAN CREEK David Elsworth Richard Quinn Seymour Cohn 5-8-09 14/1
02/22/06 2 ZINDABAD Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Abdulla Buhaleeba 6-8-12 4/1
01/22/06 2 SANDMASON Henry Cecil Willie Ryan Plantation Stud 4-8-09 12/1
00/23/06 2 FRUITS OF LOVE Mark Johnston Olivier Peslier Mick Doyle 4-8-12 9/2
99/18/06 2 FRUITS OF LOVE Mark Johnston Olivier Peslier Mick Doyle 4-8-12 12/1
98/19/06 2 POSIDONAS Paul Cole Pat Eddery Athos Christodoulou 6-8-09 15/2
97/20/06 2 PREDAPPIO Saeed bin Suroor Gary Stevens Godolphin 4-8-12 6/1
96/21/06 2 OSCAR SCHINDLER Kevin Prendergast IRE Michael Kinane Oliver Lehane 4-8-09 7/4F
95/23/06 2 BEAUCHAMP HERO John Dunlop John Reid Erik Penser 5-8-09 11/2
94/17/06 2 BOBZAO Terry Mills John Reid Terry Mills 5-8-09 11/1
93/18/06 2 JEUNE Geoff Wragg Ray Cochrane Exors of late Sir Robin McAlpine 4-8-09 7/2
92/19/06 2 ROCK HOPPER Michael Stoute Pat Eddery Maktoum Al Maktoum 5-8-12 8/15F
91/21/06 2 ROCK HOPPER Michael Stoute Pat Eddery Maktoum Al Maktoum 4-8-12 5/6F
90/22/06 2 ASSATIS Guy Harwood Ray Cochrane S Harada 5-9-00 50/1
89/23/06 2 ASSATIS Guy Harwood Pat Eddery Khalid Abdullah 4-8-09 4/11F
88/17/06 2 ALMAARAD John Dunlop Willie Carson Hamdan Al Maktoum 5-8-12 6/1
87/19/06 2 ORBAN Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Prince A A Faisal 4-8-09 11/4
86/20/06 2 DIHISTAN Michael Stoute Pat Eddery H H Aga Khan 4-8-09 11/2
85/21/06 2 JUPITER ISLAND Clive Brittain Lester Piggott The Marquess of Tavistock 6-8-09 85/40
84/22/06 2 KHAIRPOUR Fulke Johnson Houghton Steve Cauthen G J Chittick 5-8-12 13/2
83/17/06 2 STANERRA Frank Dunne IRE Brian Rouse Frank Dunne 5-8-09 4/1
82/18/06 2 CRITIQUE Henry Cecil Lester Piggott Garo Vanlan 4-8-09 7/2
81/19/06 2 PELERIN Harry Wragg Brian Taylor Sir Phillip Oppenheimer 4-8-12 7/1
80/20/062 SCORPIO Francois Boutin FR Philippe Paquet Gerry Oldham 4-9-00 2/1F
79/22/06 2 OBRAZTSOVY Ryan Price Brian Taylor Robert Sangster 4-8-09 9/4F
78/23/06 2 MONTCONTOUR Maurice Zilber FR Yves Saint-Martin Mrs H H Hausmann 4-8-12 25/1
77/17/06 2 MENEVAL Vincent O’Brien IRE Lester Piggott Mrs George F Getty II 4-9-00 2/1F
*run at York