Althiqa | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rebel’s Romance Posts Solid Work For Belmont Stakes

All four of trainer Charlie Appleby's Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters – Rebel's Romance, Desert Peace, Summer Romance and Althiqa – breezed Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from June 3 through Saturday, June 5, and is headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.

Group 2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the Belmont Stakes, breezed on the fast main track in company with Grade 2, $300,000 True North hopeful Desert Peace.

The pair visited Big Sandy at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe piloting a tracking Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot guiding the more forward Desert Peace. NYRA clockers captured the pair in 1:01.05 and out in 1:14.

“They went out early at 5:30 to try and get a good track. They worked six furlongs and the time was good. They're getting better in their fitness,” said Appleby's traveling assistant Sophie Chretien. “Rebel stayed at the back of Desert Peace, we didn't want to ask him too hard. But he traveled much better than last time and went out seven-eighths.”

The breeze was a follow-up to the pair's half-mile work in 50.54 on Wednesday on the Belmont main track.

“It's normal for them,” said Chretien of the quick work back. “It was an easy first breeze and we need to carry on with the race in two weeks. They will go again Wednesday and after that we'll see where we are.”

Summer Romance and Althiqa, who finished first and third last out in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine on February 18 at Meydan, are targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares on June 5.

The fillies breezed six furlongs in company on the firm inner turf with Summer Romance [Metcalfe] tracking outside of Althiqa [Pot] and finishing up very strong in 1:14.20.

“The fillies went to the grass for the first time today and had a good, strong piece of work,” said Chretien. “They had a good blow. They needed it. I liked the way they moved on the grass. It's been a dry week and the grass is good. They will go again next Saturday.”

Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith will have the call aboard Rebel's Romance, Althiqa and Desert Peace, while Luis Saez will ride Summer Romance.

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Godolphin Quartet Arrives For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Four Godolphin runners trained by Charlie Appleby – Rebel's Romance, Desert Peace, Summer Romance and Althiqa – arrived at Belmont Park at 11 a.m. Sunday to prepare for starts during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that runs from Thursday, June 3, through Saturday, June 5, headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.

The geldings Rebel's Romance and Desert Peace started their journey from Dubai to Belgium, while the fillies Summer Romance and Althiqa, shipped from the U.K. to join the duo before their flight to New York. All four horses will remain in quarantine until Tuesday morning.

“They all shipped well and are very relaxed,” said traveling assistant Sophie Chretien, who will oversee training and saddling duties for the talented quartet. “We're here early so we'll have more time to get settled in and get used to Belmont.”

The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.

Group 2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance is set to compete in the Belmont Stakes on June 5. The sophomore son of Dubawi, an Irish homebred out of the Street Cry mare Minidress, has won 4-of-5 starts.

Following a fourth in the Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February, Rebel's Romance made the grade last out with a 5 1/2-length score in the 1 3/16-mile Group 2 UAE Derby on March 27 at Meydan.

“It was a very good race and it showed he has matured a lot,” said Chretien of the UAE Derby effort. “He went to Saudi before the run at Meydan and it took him a while to mature, but he has matured a lot and he won the Derby with class. We just have to keep his mind relaxed because to do well in these big races you need a horse as cool as possible in his head.”

Chretien said the sizable gelding should appreciate the stretch out in distance.

“I think he's built that way and more distance will suit him,” said Chretien. “He's a big boy.”

Desert Peace, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, was a $1.3 million purchase at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Kentucky by Doug and Felicia Branham, the colt's stakes-winning dam Stoweshoe is a full-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire mare Taris.

Desert Peace was a nose winner last out traveling one-mile on May 11 over the Meydan main track.

While no specific target is confirmed yet for Desert Peace, the Grade 2, $300,000 True North, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up on June 4 is a possibility.

“We'll see how he trains, but he could aim for the True North. Time will tell,” said Chretien.

Summer Romance and Althiqa, who finished first and third last out in the nine-furlong Group 2 Balanchine on February 18 at Meydan respectively, are targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf event for older fillies and mares.

“The two fillies are physically very similar. They both won in Dubai and will run in the same race here in New York,” said Chretien.

Summer Romance, a 4-year-old daughter of Kingman out of the Statue of Liberty mare Serena's Storm, is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning millionaire Rizeena.

Bred in Ireland by Roundhill Stud, Summer Romance captured the 1 1/16-mile Group 3 Princess Elizabeth in July at Epsom. Last out, in her second start of the season, Summer Romance won the Balanchine by 2 ¼-lengths at Meydan.

Althiqa, a British homebred by Dark Angel and out of the Shamardal mare Mistrusting, won the Prix Amandine in July at Deauville in France ahead of a trio of group placings to close out her sophomore season. The grey filly launched her 4-year-old campaign in style with a score in the Group 2 Cape Verdi at Meydan ahead of her third in the Balanchine.

Appleby previously indicated a good result in the Just a Game could see Summer Romance try her luck in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana, a nine-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares on July 17 at Saratoga.

“Summer Romance is one who can handle a little more distance going forward,” said Chretien.

For more information, visit www.BelmontStakes.com.

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Althiqa Prevails In The Cape Verdi

Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was a model of consistency for trainer Charlie Appleby last season at three, and she continued in that vein on seasonal debut at Meydan on Thursday while picking up a first pattern-race win in the G2 Cape Verdi.

The winner of her lone 2-year-old start in May of 2019 before undergoing a wind surgery, Althiqa resurfaced in a seven-furlong novice event at Newmarket on June 14, which she won by 7 1/2 lengths. Returning 11 days later for the Listed Eternal Fillies' S. again over seven furlongs at Haydock, Althiqa was three-quarters of a length behind the winning Under The Stars (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) when third, and collected her first black-type score next out in Deauville's Listed Prix Amandine. Beaten just a length behind the great One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) when third in the G3 Oak Tree S. at Glorious Goodwood, Althiqa was second back at Deauville in the G3 Prix Lieurey going a mile over the heavy ground and wrapped up her season when second in Doncaster's G3 Sceptre Fillies' S. on Sept. 9. Going back up to a mile once again on Thursday, Althiqa jumped from the extreme outside gate nine under James Doyle and had all of her rivals up ahead as William Buick set the pace aboard her stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the winner of last year's G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom.

With about five lengths to make up at the quarter pole, Althiqa swung widest of all but was moving noticably smoothly as she followed the winding-up Stylistique (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in her run. That pair set their sights on the still-leading Summer Romance inside the final quarter mile and provided a bit of drama when ducking towards the rail, but Althiqa emerged from the skirmishes in full flight and hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths the good.

“She has really quickened nicely there when I asked her,” said jockey James Doyle. “Analysing the race beforehand there looked to be a few who would go on, so after a slow start, I was happy to settle her in behind. She really hit the line well, so will definitely be worth a crack at the extra 200m in the Balanchine S. Before tonight, we thought 1600m was as far as she would want to go, so that was very pleasing.”

Pedigree Notes

Althiqa is the first foal out of the Listed Boadicea Fillies S. scorer Mistrusting (Ire) (Shamardal), who 3-year-old, Magical Land (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), was placed twice last year and who also has the 2-year-old filly Before Dawn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a yearling colt also by Althiqa's sire. Rabbah Bloodstock purchased Althiqa's second dam, the G2 Cherry Hinton S. winner Misheer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), for 70,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 2.

Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
CAPE VERDI PRESENTED BY LONGINES-G2, $163,000, Meydan, 1-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:35.08, gd.
1–ALTHIQA (GB), 126, f, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Mistrusting (Ire) (SW-Eng, $120,206),
by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Misheer (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: All For Laura (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby;
J-James Doyle. $97,800. Lifetime Record: 8-4-2-2, $170,543.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A++.
2–Stylistique (GB), 126, f, 4, Dansili (GB)–Sleek (GB), by Oasis
Dream (GB). O-Yvonne Jacques; B-Carisbrooke Stud (GB);
T-Roger Varian. $32,600.
3–Dubai Love (GB), f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Devotion (Ire),
by Dylan Thomas (Ire). (120,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA).
O-Godolphin; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor.
$16,300.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1, 1. Also Ran: Silent Night (Swe), Summer Romance (Ire), Perfect Inch (GB), Quiet Times (Ger), Last Look (Ire), Stunning Beauty (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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