Buick guides Rebel’s Romance to 2000 Guineas Trial win

Seemar’s Topper Bill on top of his game to land Dubai Trophy

There is nothing more thrilling in a horse race than to see two young enthusiastic horses get involved in a dogfight like the one we were treated to at Meydan Racecourse yesterday in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Sponsored By Hamdan Bin Mohammad Cruise Terminal Stakes.

The synergy between jockey and horse was crucial to the outcome of the 1,600-metre contest with a super-confident William Buick nursing Rebel’s Romance to a narrow victory over Mouheeb, the mount of Ryan Curatolo. Watching both horses battle down the dusty Meydan straight under the arcs of the spotlights was a thing of beauty.

Rebel’s Romance was notching up a third career victory and first in the UAE while Mouheeb was tasting defeat for the first time following his emphatic career debut at Jebel Ali Racecourse last month.

Losing is the best teacher and Mouheeb’s trainer, Nicholas Bachalard, will be more than happy that his youngster will have learned a lot in a defeat, which can only bring him on for the rest of the season.

But there was no taking anything away from Rebel’s Romance, who looked very much a horse for the future.

“Coming into it was our gate speed and how far we can get and how much ground we will have to make up,” said Appleby.

“(But) once William got him into a nice pitch and he was travelling well and once he sort of angled him out, I was confident as you could be around here as he galloped out to the line.

96th UAE victory

“To be fair to William, he looked after him and gave him a nice education. The last couple of 100 yards it looked a bit tight on TV but he was just riding him hands and heels,” said Appleby.

“He’s a horse if we mind him the right way we’ll have some fun with him for the years to come,” added Appleby, who heads into the 2000 Guineas with a solid chance. Rebel’s Romance was gifting Appleby a 96th UAE victory.

Meanwhile, the Satish Seemar-trained Topper Bill put his best foot forward to win the Dubai Trophy Sponsored By DP World UAE Region Stakes from Saeed Bin Surour’s First Smile.

Bin Surour had earlier got on board the Meydan scoreboard when he sent out Global Heat to land the Jafza Handicap over a mile and a half on turf.

Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance (left), ridden by William Buick, edges out Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo astride, to win the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial at Meydan yesterday.

Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Topper Bill, ridden by Richard Mullan and trained by Satish Seemar, wins the Dubai Trophy on turf yesterday.