July 17, 2026 
The inevitable has occurred. Godolphin has announced that its all-time winningest globetrotting horse and worldwide fan-favorite Rebel’s Romance has been retired from racing.
Over a career that spanned seven seasons, the most successful son of Dubawi (out of Minidress by Street Cry) compiled a 32:22-1-2 record, with 17 graded stakes wins, nine at the G1 level. His victories included two Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) wins (2022, 2024), the 2024 Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) and Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup (HK-G1), and the 2025 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (USA-G1). He also won graded stakes races in Germany and Qatar. Rebel’s Romance was named North America’s Eclipse Award Champion Male Turf Horse in 2024.
He leaves the racetrack at the top of his game having won last week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes (UK-G2). He earned $16,426,585 as Godolphin’s all-time top winner and earner.
The 2021 winner of the UAE Derby (UAE-G1) at three, Rebel’s Romance seemed set for a career on dirt. A minor injury kept him from competing in the 2021 Belmont Stakes (G1) won by stablemate Essential Quality. Switched to turf, he won his first five starts, culminating in a course-record 2:24.35 victory in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.
His 2023 season would be interrupted, but he came back at six years of age in 2024 to win five of his six starts, including globetrotting victories in Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany. He ended that remarkable year with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, becoming the first horse to win non-consecutive editions of that race and that race’s oldest victor.
The gelding would prove almost as great in 2025 with five victories including the Grosser Preis Von Berlin in Germany (Ger-G1), the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in the U.S. and both the Yorkshire Cup (UK-G2) and Hardwicke Stakes (UK-G2) at Royal Ascot. He returned to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar for a chance to match Goldikova as the only three-time Breeders’ Cup winner, but fell just short, finishing runner-up to Ethical Diamond.
“After yet another brilliant win at Newmarket last week, we all discussed it and decided now is the right time to call it a day,” said his career-long trainer Charlie Appleby. “We always knew this day would come, but it’s nevertheless a very sad day for everyone at Godolphin. He has taken us on a journey we will never forget.
“We’ve had some great days together,” continued Appleby in reverie. “Wherever I am in the world, he is the one horse people ask me about. He built up a great following and I was always touched by the reception he received around the globe. You dream of having a horse like Rebel’s Romance. I am incredibly thankful to have been part of his story. It has been an absolute honor to train such an amazing horse.”
“Rebel’s Romance has taken me on some great adventures,” added jockey William Buick. “He was a wonderful horse to ride, with such a presence and will to win. I feel immensely privileged to have been able to ride a horse of his stature. I cherish the memories that we have had together.”
Rebel’s Romance will enter Godolphin’s lifetime retirement program, most likely at his home, Moulton Paddocks at Newmarket, England.
