Rebel's Romance Outlasts Epic Poet in Yorkshire Cup

Rebel's Romance (IRE) is a global star, but he proved he is just as happy closer to home when landing yet another big race in a Yorkshire Cup Stakes (G2) thriller. The United States, Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany, and Qatar had all been conquered by Godolphin's remarkable 7-year-old, and God's own country can now be added to that list, but only just. Settled just behind the pacesetting Continuous at a crawl on his first try at the 1 3/4-mile trip under William Buick, Rebel's Romance went for glory a furlong out, but in uncharted territory, he looked briefly as if proven stayer Epic Poet (IRE) would swamp him. However, his trademark tenacity kicked in, and he prevailed by a head to record his first group win in Britain since July 2022. Winning trainer Charlie Appleby said: "He's a yard favorite and has built up his own little fanbase—and rightly so for what he's achieved. A few people asked why we came here, but I felt over the mile and a half on his last few runs, I didn't know if he still had that bit of kick at the highest level. "They went so steady, but as close as it got, I was always confident he'd win. Time after time when a horse comes to him, he puts his head back out again and wants it." Sweet William (IRE) ran third in the Yorkshire Cup. Despite making a perfect start over staying distances, Rebel's Romance will be dropped back to a mile and a half. He will be kept closer to home before jetting off again later in the year, with a bid for a third Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) win in the pipeline. Rebel's Romance is the reigning Eclipse Award-winning male turf horse. "William got off and the one thing he mentioned was he's a mile-and-a-half horse," Appleby said. "We got away with it and on that evidence we'll go straight back there. He's in the Coronation Cup but there's no set plans. He could go to the Hardwicke as he'd have no penalty and there's always Germany, too. "I didn't want to go travelling again just yet, and we'll stay in Europe for the summer and then look towards the U.S. in the second half of the season. We'll probably go to Canada as a springboard before then for the Canadian International." Rebel's Romance took his terrific career record to 17 wins from 25 starts, with his earnings now more than £10.6 million. Appleby said: "He makes me look like a better trainer! It's all on him. He's no spring chicken anymore, and it's all credit to him and him only." Just like Rebel's Romance, Epic Poet will be on his travels again after his gallant defeat. His trainer, David O'Meara, said: "I can't be disappointed, can I? He's a horse we bought for 48,000 guineas at the Horses in Training sale, and he's won a fortune this winter in the Middle East. "There were no hard-luck stories. We were getting him and just ran out of time. He'll be campaigned very sparingly this summer, with the view to going back to Dubai and Saudi Arabia in the winter."