REBEL'S ROMANCE has only been beaten once, in the lucrative Saudi Derby at Riyadh. He won the UAE Derby in March and has no problems with an absence so looks the one to beat before heading for bigger things. Stable companion Desert Peace has a fitness advantage having ploughed through the mud to make all here on New Year's Day though another Godolphin entry, Big Team, was closing fast. New Trails had Dubai Icon two lengths behind in a Listed handicap here in February before a very fair effort in a Group 1 while Plus Que Parfait, a Group 2 winner here when trained in the USA, is now with Doug Watson and will be better for last month's run.
Rebel's Romance (IRE) (8-9) won at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Mar beating Panadol (8-9) by 5 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ajuste Fiscal (URU) (9-0) 5th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Tuz (9-0) at Meydan 1m lst stks fst in Dec.
Desert Peace (USA) (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f stks fst in Jan beating Big Team (8-10) by nk, 8 ran.
New Trails (USA) (9-0) 6th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Salute The Soldier (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Plus Que Parfait (USA) (9-2) 5th of 7, 19 3/4l behind For The Top (9-2) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
Remorse (IRE) (9-2) 2nd of 7, 4l behind For The Top (9-2) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
Saltarin Dubai (ARG) (9-2) 3rd of 7, 16l behind For The Top (9-2) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
Big Team (USA) (8-10) 2nd of 8, nk behind Desert Peace (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f stks fst in Jan.
Bright Start (USA) 18-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 19th of 20, 28 1/2l behind Johnny Drama (8-13) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Casey Jones (IRE) (9-3) 7th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Everfast (9-6) at Meydan 1m stks fst in Dec.
Dubai Icon 10-3fav (10-0) Held up in mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind You're Hired (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Revamp (USA) 2-5 (9-1) won at Markopoulou 1m 1f Sloppy in Dec beating Run To The Hills (9-1) by 12 1/2l, 5 ran.
Gentile Bellini (9-0) 6th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Tuz (9-0) at Meydan 1m lst stks fst in Dec.
Lost Eden (IRE) (8-10) 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Down On Da Bayou (8-10) at Jebel Ali 1m stks fst in Dec.
Taqareer (IRE) 9-2 (9-13) Chased leaders, led over 9f out, headed over 2f out, not much room and held over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 8l behind Untold Story (10-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Court Poet (9-8) last of 9, 18 1/4l behind Dolmen (8-10) at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f gd in Dec.
Fire Group (USA) (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f mdn stks fst in Dec beating Brontology (9-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
