Berlin's top galop racing season is fast approaching
Rebel's Romance Defends Title in Westminster Großer Preis von Berlin
The Westminster Großer Preis von Berlin, often referred to as the Champions League of thoroughbred racing, returned to Hoppegarten racecourse on Sunday, 2025. This Group I race, with a purse of 155,000 euros, attracted horses from six countries, including the hot favourite, Rebel's Romance.
Rebel's Romance, trained by Charlie Appleby, is a global superstar, having won 18 high-profile races worldwide and earning 12.7 million euros from 27 starts. The three-year-old and older 2.400-meter race was the highlight of the season's fifth race, marking the 135th running of the Westminster Großer Preis von Berlin.
Rebel's Romance's most significant challenge came from Junko (GB), trained by Andre Fabre. Junko, ridden by Rene Piechulek from Paris, was a strong challenger throughout the race. However, Rebel's Romance, ridden by Billy Loughnane, displayed top-level fighting spirit to maintain the lead, narrowly holding off Junko in this thrilling Group 1 race over 12 furlongs on turf.
Other main competitors included Narrativo (Ger), trained by Weiss, Cold Heart (Brz), trained by Schiergen, Straight (Ger), another Weiss-trained contender, and Nastaria (GB), trained by Schleusner-Fruhriep.
Rebel's Romance's victory marked its eighth Group 1 win, further cementing its place as a globetrotting champion. Racecourse owner Gerhard Schöningh welcomed back Rebel's Romance, which is part of Sheikh Mohammed's global racing empire. Billy Loughnane, who knows Rebel's Romance and has ridden it in training, replaced the horse's regular jockey for this race.
The Westminster Großer Preis von Berlin is a prestigious event in the European racing calendar, and this year's edition did not disappoint. With a strong field of contenders and a thrilling finish, Rebel's Romance once again proved why it is a force to be reckoned with in thoroughbred racing.
Sports enthusiasts across the world celebrated as Rebel's Romance, the renowned horse-racing star, triumphantly defended its title in the Westminster Großer Preis von Berlin, a renowned racing event in Europe. Despite a fierce challenge from Junko (GB), trained by Andre Fabre, Rebel's Romance exhibited remarkable racing prowess, securing another victory in the realm of sports racing.
