Rebel’s Romance secures 21st victory at Meydan amid Middle East tension

Sheikh Mohammed was on course at Meydan to witness Rebel’s Romance win his 21st race in the Dubai City Of Gold.

The Super Saturday meeting took place despite air strikes in the region after “pre-emptive” action from the US and Israel against Iran who they believe are intent on developing nuclear weapons.

The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.

Charlie Appleby’s evergreen eight-year-old was made to work hard by Ed Walker’s Fort George who ran a career-best, but Rebel’s Romance, as he had done so many times before, found enough in his locker to win by a length and a half for faithful ally William Buick.

“I just want him to get round safely these days, he means a lot and it’s very emotional,” said Appleby.

“He won a UAE Derby, we tried to turn him into a World Cup horse but given my form on dirt that didn’t work but we brought him back to turf and from thereon he’s been a rock star.

“He’s getting older so we’ll take it race by race, but we wanted him to show everyone what a great racehorse he is and thankfully he’s done it again tonight.

“The Sheema Classic is a nice conversation to have, but he is getting older and I’ll look after the old boy.”

He added: “It’s great for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed to be here tonight with all his family.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Meydaan threw his hat into the mix for the World Cup with a high-class display in the Al Maktoum Classic under Buick.

He had run in the Melbourne Cup over two miles and had two races on turf over a mile and three-quarters at the Carnival, but dropped to 10 furlongs on dirt for this Group Two he won by over five lengths.

Buick said: “It was a brilliant move and it’s really paid off. I thought they were very brave running in this race, but look what he did.

“We were worried about him jumping slow on the inside and he did but they didn’t go quick and he was never taken off his feet. He just came alive half a mile out and I was pretty impressed with what he did.

“He’s proven he handles the track, you couldn’t have asked for more from a trial (for the World Cup).”

Ryan Moore excelled for the Crisfords on Quaddwah in the Singspiel Stakes.

Off a pedestrian pace, Moore sat just off the lead and when the sprint happened was in the perfect place to capitalise, beating Dividend by two and a half lengths.

“He’s a very straightforward horse and he has been very consistent at his level,” said Moore.

“The race worked out nicely for him and he showed a good attitude, it was a solid performance.

“The Dubai Turf is usually a hard race, but he usually turns up and performs. He’d need to run his best race, but hopefully he could pick up some prize-money.”

The Crisfords secured a treble and Moore a double when Title Role had too much for Appleby’s highly touted Talk Of New York in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas.

“The pacemaker stepped on it a long way out so I was just trying to fill him up,” said Moore.

“I had to come wide into the straight but he showed a good attitude when I asked him.

“Simon and Ed have their horses in really good shape and he’s beaten two really nice horses there.”