Godolphin globetrotter Rebel's Romance to miss Dubai World Cup night clash with Calandagan

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Globetrotter Rebel’s Romance will miss his proposed clash with Calandagan in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic on World Cup night this Saturday, Godolphin have confirmed.

The money-spinning eight-year-old was not among the British, Irish and French challengers that journeyed to the UAE at the weekend.

Rebel’s Romance registered his 21st career win on Super Saturday at Meydan only last month when running out a smooth winner of the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold.

The nine-time Group 1 winner has racked up prize-money of more than £12 million in a career that kicked off in 2020 and has included two wins in the Breeders' Cup Turf. 

Instead of staying at Charlie Appleby's Dubai base while racing in the UAE, Rebel's Romance regularly travels back to Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket and did so after his latest win.

The gelding was the 3-1 second favourite for the Sheema Classic behind 4-7 chance Calandagan, with Giavellotto a general third favourite.

The latter’s trainer Marco Botti said: “He’s travelled over well by all accounts, and we are very much looking forward to the race. He should have won the Amir’s Trophy in Qatar last time but the jockey got him in a pocket and by the time he got out the first and second had gone.”

Owing to various circumstances, Giavellotto will have a new jockey next Saturday.

Botti added: “Oisin Murphy usually rides him but he’s banned and they won’t move the dates of his suspension. Andrea Atzeni has also ridden him but he’s in Hong Kong where they are racing the next day so it would be tricky with the travel. We’ve booked James Doyle who is a top-class jockey and hopefully will be able to sit on him this week.”

Read these next:

Calandagan given the green light to run in Sheema Classic in huge boost to Dubai World Cup meeting 

Big weekend in prospect for James Owen with a 'massive chance' in the Lincoln and a first runner on the Dubai World Cup card 

'He's a horse of a lifetime' - Godolphin stalwart Rebel's Romance claims 21st win of his career 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.