Rebel’s Romance Reinforces His Legacy in the 135th Gran Premio de Berlín

Godolphin’s star once again asserted his dominance at Hoppegarten with a commanding performance guided by rising talent Billy Loughnane; Brazilian runner Cold Heart finished third

Rebel’s Romance notched his eighth Grade 1 victory/ HOPPEGARTEN

HOPPEGARTEN, Alemania (Special for Turf Diario).- In a thrilling day marked by a strong crowd at Hoppegarten, the 7-year-old Irish star Rebel’s Romance solidified his status as one of the world’s top racehorses by capturing the 135th Westminster Gran Premio de Berlín (2400m, €155,000) for the second time. Under the guidance of rising British jockey Billy Loughnane, just 19 years old, the multiple Grade 1 winner gave no chance to his rivals, dominating the contest with authority to notch his eighth G1 triumph and push his earnings past €12 million—a European training record.

From the outset, Rebel’s Romance kept pace with co-favorite Junko (Intello), exchanging the lead with measured but firm strides. In the final stretch, although Junko battled bravely, he couldn’t match the Irish champion’s superiority, who crossed the wire 1 ¾ lengths clear. Brazilian runner Cold Heart (Alpha) closed strongly for third, while local longshot Nastaria (Outstrip) surprised with a powerful late charge to finish fourth, exceeding expectations.

The victory not only highlighted Rebel’s Romance’s elite quality but also showcased the rise of a new generation of riders. Loughnane, celebrating his first Grade 1 win and already tallying 120 victories this year, said: “Winning here is hard to put into words—it’s pure euphoria. Riding a champion like this for Godolphin is a dream come true.”

The event featured top-level supporting races as well. The Hoppegartener Fliegerpreis, a 1200-meter sprint, went to veteran Zerostress (Areion), who, aboard Michael ‘Miki’ Cadeddu, edged out favorite Schützenzauber (Amaron) and outsider Espero (Territories), who mounted a spectacular rally.

In the fillies’ division, the ARQANA Hoppegartener Stutenpreis (1800m), champion jockey Thore Hammer-Hansen guided Koffi Kick (Zarak) to a narrow victory over longtime leader Overture (New Approach). Later, in the marathon Hoppegartener Steherpreis (2800m), Hammer-Hansen again triumphed aboard Waldadler (Adlerflug), fending off the resilient Partnun (The Grey Gatsby) and placing promising Zauberkönig (Teofilo) third after his German Derby effort.

Track owner and organizer Gerhard Schöningh praised the occasion: “The 135th Gran Premio de Berlín was an exceptional day for German and European racing. Rebel’s Romance is a living legend and reaffirms his greatness with this win.”

The day also featured a charming moment for children in attendance: jockey Sean Byrne, after his victory, was weighed down with two buckets of bricks equal to his body weight—73 kilos—which were then turned into free ice creams for the kids thanks to one of the sponsors.

All in all, Hoppegarten delivered a top-tier sporting spectacle, blending established stars with rising talent, centered around a protagonist who continues to write his legend: Rebel’s Romance, the Irish sensation dominating Europe and edging closer to racing immortality.