Rebel’s Romance showcased his remarkable spirit as he reclaimed the prestigious Preis von Europa trophy in Cologne.
After settling into fourth early on, William Buick made his move on the turn for home, taking command from Jessica Harrington’s front-runner, Trevaunance, with two furlongs to go.
Charlie Appleby’s charge quickly established dominance over most of the six-runner field, but the German outsider Straight followed closely, posing a significant threat as they entered the final stages.
Despite the challenge, Rebel’s Romance, who had previously triumphed here in 2022, dug deep to fend off his rival, securing a neck victory in the Group One mile-and-a-half contest.
This win marked his 14th victory in 21 starts for the Godolphin homebred, who has already achieved elite-level success this year in both the Dubai Sheema Classic and Hong Kong’s Champions & Chater Cup.
Buick shared his thoughts with German broadcaster Wett Star: "It’s fantastic to be back on Rebel’s Romance and to win this race again. He’s a true international superstar, and today he proved how tough he is."
"When we come to Germany, we always respect the local competitors; it’s never easy. But everything went smoothly for him today. The track was in great condition, and we’re all very pleased."
"The pace was relatively slow, and he thrives in a stronger rhythm. However, he’s a high-class horse who knows how to win. He always finds a way, and that makes him truly admirable. He’s a great horse."