Champion jockey William Buick executed perfect tactics on 25-1 shot Rebel’s Romance to scoop the £2.7milion winner’s prize in the Dubai Sheema Classic giving trainer Charlie Appleby’s stable a huge boost at the start of the Flat season.
It was mission accomplished for Newmarket-based Appleby to win the biggest Turf race on the Dubai World Cup card with a horse running in the colours of boss Sheik Mohammed, ruler of Dubai.
But, with his stable in a transition stage and lacking the strength in depth, in Rebel’s Romance Appleby he now has a flagbearer to run around the world.
Buick, however, was probably the deciding factor in the success. He kept close tabs on Aidan O’Brien-trained pacesetting Point Lonsdale in a tactical affair where few got in range to even throw a punch.
Marooned at the back under Ryan Moore was O’Brien’s 2023 English and Irish Derby winner Auguste Rodin, who has massive expectation riding on him this season.
William Buick executed perfect tactics on 25-1 shot Rebel’s Romance in the Sheema Classic
His had chance evaporated before the home turn but, disappointingly, he faded in the final yards rather than passing horses which should be his inferiors.
Just in front of him in 11th was Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer, whose jockey Oisin Orr conceded: ‘I got too far back and followed the wrong horses.’
Rebel’s Romance went into the Sheema Classic a four-time group one winner. But Appleby felt he had lost confidence when clipping heels while racing in America last Summer.
So the trainer lowered his sights, winning on the all-weather at Kempton in December, to get him back into his stride.
Appleby only ran four on the night but also had Frankie Dettori-ridden Star of Mystery, who was second to California Spangle in the Al Quoz Sprint.
He said: ‘He was our last roll of the dice and his price shows the depth of the race. He had a bumpy road last year but we were confident we had him back to where we wanted.’
O’Brien said: ‘It was a bit of a non-event really. The race developed into two halves so we will just put a line through it.’
The pair did not go home empty-handed, winning the two-mile Dubai Gold Cup with Tower of London.
Dettori-ridden Lord North failed in his attempt to become the first horse to win four times on World Cup night. The John and Thady Gosden-trained gelding finished eighth to French-trained Facteur Cheval, in the Dubai Turf.
The feature $12m World Cup turned into a eight and a half length rout for Laurel River for UAE-based trainer Bhupat Seemar and his Irish jockey Tadhg O’Shea. The duo also won the Golden Shaheen with Tuz on a night they and their bank managers will never forget.
Sir Alex Ferguson watched star horse Spirit Dancer finish second last in the the biggest Turf race on the Dubai World Cup card
Gosden said: ‘Nashwa has run great from an impossible draw. You have to use your horse to get a position. She hit the front two out but it cost her. She has handled the whole event well.
‘The other old boy probably found too lively. He has always been lucky to get a bit of cut here. With the winds and sun, the ground is very quick. He’d appreciate a bit of good to soft at his age. He’ll be freshened up and then there are lots of places to look to run. He has set history here already.
Dettori said: ‘I had a great spot and loomed in the straight but he didn’t have the gears at the end that he has had in the past. We’re all getting old, right?
‘I haven’t got a Kentucky Derby ride yet but all the trials are now. It’s the Santa Anita Derby next week. There is a lot going on, don’t worry.’
