Godolphin double at Newmarket vindicates Appleby's patient strategy

Charlie Appleby's Godolphin operation claimed a notable double at Newmarket's July Festival on Thursday, headlined by the veteran international star Rebel's Romance. The day's racing also featured a significant victory for the King's racing interests in the Bahrain Trophy, highlighting ties between European and Gulf royal families.

The results offered a public defence of Appleby's handling of his string after questions were raised about the yard's recent form. Appleby attributed his ability to bypass major early-summer targets like Royal Ascot to the long-term perspective of his owner, Sheikh Mohammed.

Rebel's Romance, an eight-year-old who has won across Hong Kong, Dubai, Bahrain and the United States, made his first appearance since February in the Princess of Wales's Stakes. Sent off as the 8-11 favourite, he defeated stablemate Arabian Crown by half a length, though jockey William Buick had to work hard to compensate for late fatigue. Buick noted the horse's incredible CV of career earnings and Group One wins, highlighting his enduring value to the Godolphin operation.

"I am in the privileged position to train for someone who allows the horses to be given the time and I didn't want to go to Ascot," Appleby said. While another run at the Breeders' Cup Turf—where the horse is an 8-1 chance—remains possible, Appleby cautioned they would take the season race by race.

Earlier, the two-year-old Inner City Blues justified 5-6 favouritism to win the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes by a length and a quarter. The colt's performance vindicated Appleby's decision to hold back a select group of promising juveniles rather than rushing them to the track for early-season prestige.

"There are a select group that I would say are stakes horses and we have purposely given them the time," Appleby said. "I'll let the horses do the talking."

Royal breeding target progresses

In the Group Three Bahrain Trophy, John and Thady Gosden's Frankel colt Point Of Law edged out Galiyan by half a length. The win kept the King and Queen on course for a potential tilt at the St Leger at Doncaster in September, a race no British monarch has won since Dunfermline in 1977.

Paddy Power cut Point Of Law to 12-1 from 20-1 for the Doncaster classic following his recovery from a troubled run at Royal Ascot. However, Gosden noted the colt's preference for firmer summer ground, leaving the Great Voltigeur at York as a likely alternative.