Improving Rebel's Romance claims German Group 1 for Appleby and Doyle

There was disappointment for Charlie Appleby in the Prix Jacques le Marois when Coroebus was beaten at Deauville, but he enjoyed success elsewhere on the continent as as Rebel’s Romance landed the Westminster 132nd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten under James Doyle.

Moments after Mysterious Night had got Appleby off to the perfect possible start to the day by justifying odds-on favouritism in the Group 3 Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville, Rebel’s Romance secured a first Group 1 win.

The four-year-old, who won the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan last year, was making just his third start on turf after wins in the Fred Archer Stakes and the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last month.

However, the progressive Godolphin-owned gelding relished the significant step up in grade to fend off the fast-finishing Nerik.

Torquator Tasso won this race in 2020 while Alpinista triumphed 12 months ago, with both now jostling to be the shortest-priced European horse in the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 2.

'He travelled round really smoothly'

“It’s interesting, he had a different start to most of our horses," said Doyle. "We trained him for the dirt and he ended up winning the UAE Derby and the switch to turf, I have to say, he feels like he’s definitely improved for it.

Rebel's Romance: is unbeaten on three starts on turfCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He came to today’s race relatively unexposed with only a couple of starts on turf but he’s taken to it well and I thought he did a super job. He travelled round really smoothly, I ended a bit further back than ideal but he was a bit boisterous beforehand so I wanted to make sure he relaxed properly first and he showed a good kick at the top of the straight.”

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing at the Normandy track, Appleby said: “Rebel’s Romance has got a nice progressive profile, we’ve probably been running him on the wrong surface for so many years but now we’ve switched him to turf he’s three from three and enjoying it. He’s got a nice profile and I wouldn’t like to say where we’ll end up with him.

“He’ll probably end up going back for one of their races later in the year but we’re very pleased with him and it was a great ride by James.”

Grosser Preis von Berlin full result

Read this next:

Inspiral and Frankie Dettori bounce back to land Group 1 glory in France

Catch our in-depth review of the weekend's racing every Monday in the Racing Post. With big-race analysis from Classic-winning jockey George Baker, Chris Cook's take on the weekend action, eyecatchers from the Raceform team, weekly awards and much more, it is not to be missed.