Billy Loughnane registered his first Group One victory when guiding globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance to the Westminster 135th Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday.
A firm favourite of trainer Charlie Appleby, the seven-year-old began his Group One haul in this very race back in 2022 and three years on he was back in the German capital to strike for the eighth time at the highest level.
Keen to keep things simple Rebel’s Romance was up with the pace throughout the early stages, keeping close tabs on Andre Fabre’s Junko and when straightening for home he showed his class to bravely hold off the French challenger.
It was in fact a fourth Group One success on German soil for the well-travelled dual Breeders’ Cup Turf hero who could return to Del Mar for another crack at the season-ending showpiece, with Coral making him the 5-1 co second-favourite for a third Stateside victory.
Appleby said: “It’s great for Billy, but more importantly great for the horse who keeps sparkling on all continents.
“To have him carry on at the top level is fantastic for Sheikh Mohammed and I see this as a pre-cursor for the Canadian International at Woodbine and then the Breeders’ Cup.”
Loughnane has ridden eight winners from 12 rides for Appleby this season and it is fitting his first success at the top table comes in Germany, having notched his first Group-race triumph at Cologne in April last year.
It caps a memorable weekend for his teenage pilot who also won the Sweet Solera Stakes in the royal blue of Appleby and Godolphin aboard Dance To The Music at Newmarket on Saturday.
Loughnane told Wettstar: “This is a feeling I can’t describe, it’s a feeling of ecstasy, what a horse and I’m very lucky to be riding in these colours and riding a horse like this.
“He’s a star of a horse and has been going for a good few seasons now. Big thanks go to William Buick and I spoke to him last night and he told me exactly what to do. He’s a superstar.”
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old’s father Mark Loughnane was the proudest man on Wolverhampton racecourse having watched his son’s finest hour from Dunstall Park.
He told Sky Sports Racing: “Words can’t describe something like that and it is something Billy has dreamt about all his life, it was amazing.
“I had an even-money favourite in the first but I was more on my phone watching Billy and we can’t thank Mr Appleby and George Boughey and people like that enough. His agent Tony Hind has done a super job and they’ve all really catapulted Billy to the next level but as a dad, I’m proud as punch.
“When it was talked about he might be riding Rebel’s Romance he rang me straight away and was like a child in a sweet shop and he said ‘I’m on this horse of Mr Appleby’s and it’s going to be great’. I told him just to relax as a lot can happen between races.
“I’ve spoken to him on the phone and he’s absolutely elated. I was the first one on the phone and he’s bouncing and for a young fellow, he’s a super young man. What he’s done in a short space of time, I’ve helped him get started, and now that’s it off he goes.
“It’s awesome for our house and as a family, his mum is here racing today and we’re all absolutely cock-a-hoop for him.”
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