E-Paper
Sign In
Clash of Titans: Calandagan, Rebel’s Romance set for epic $6m Dubai Sheema Classic
Two of modern racing’s most formidable turf horses - one at his peak, the other a proven legend - lock horns in a talent-rich 2,400 metres turf contest
- PUBLISHED: Thu 19 Mar 2026, 6:21 PM
Two of modern racing’s most formidable turf performers, Calandagan and Rebel’s Romance, are set to collide in a blockbuster renewal of the $6 million Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic over a test 2,400 metres at Meydan on March 28.
One of the richest turf races in the world, this year’s contest, the main support race on a glittering nine-race Dubai World Cup card, brings together not just elite talent, but two horses whose global exploits have defined long-distance excellence across continents.
Recommended For You
At opposite ends of their careers, the pair offer a compelling contrast. Calandagan, the five-year-old sensation from France, arrives as the reigning Longines World’s Best Racehorse with a towering rating of 130. His meteoric 2025 campaign established him firmly among the sport’s elite, featuring four Group 1 victories including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Champion Stakes, and a landmark triumph in the Japan Cup. Yet his path to Dubai has not been without challenge.
Impressive Saint-Cloud prep
Last week, he completed a key piece of preparation for his Dubai foray on the testing ground at Saint-Cloud. “He’s in good form, and we were happy with him today,” said Nemone Routh of the Aga Khan Studs. “The ground here is sticky and testing, which is not his preferred surface, but he got through it and worked well.” That resilience will be vital as he bids to go one better than his runner-up finish in this race last year.
Standing in his way is the remarkable Rebel’s Romance, Godolphin’s eight-year-old warrior whose longevity and consistency have made him one of the most decorated turf horses of modern times. With more than eight Group 1 victories and career earnings exceeding $12 million, the Charlie Appleby-trained globetrotter has excelled at the highest level in Europe, Dubai, Hong Kong, and the United States.
His recent victory in the Dubai City of Gold at Meydan underlined that age has done little to dull his brilliance. “I love Rebel’s Romance,” said Appleby, who has supplied three of Godolohin’s seven wins in the Sheema Classic.
“From the moment we switched him to turf, he has been a rockstar who has been there and done it so many times.” Jockey William Buick echoed that sentiment, describing him as “the horse of a lifetime… one you will remember forever.”
‘Horse of a lifetime’
“I have said it before, and I will say it again; Rebel’s Romance is the horse of a lifetime. I do feel different when I am riding this horse,” said Buick. “He has done so much for everyone at Godolphin and my career as well. He has taken me around the world.
“He is the kind of horse that, when you stop riding or training, you will remember forever. We have to enjoy him while we still have him, I certainly am, and it is great for the crowd at Meydan to see him again at the ripe old age of eight.”
The clash between youth and experience adds a fascinating dimension. Calandagan represents the new guard, progressive, explosive, and still improving, while Rebel’s Romance embodies durability, class, and a proven ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
Ratings suggest the French colt holds a narrow edge on peak performance, but Rebel’s Romance’s versatility and familiarity with Meydan, where he won this race in 2024, could prove decisive. With both horses arriving in strong form, the Sheema Classic promises to be a championship contest of the highest level.
Beyond the headline act, the supporting cast adds further intrigue. British raider Ethical Diamond brings strong credentials, having defeated Rebel’s Romance in the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.
Trained by Willie Mullins, he arrives on a three-race winning streak and could be peaking at the right time. Giavellotto, trained by Marco Botti, is a consistent middle-distance performer who has placed at the highest level, including runner-up finishes in the G1 Hong Kong Vase and the G2 Amir Trophy in Qatar, suggesting he is capable of hitting the frame again.
The field is rounded out by a mix of emerging talent and seasoned contenders. Pride Of Arras, a progressive three-year-old from the Ralph Beckett yard, has already advertised top-class potential with victories in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes and G1 Dante Stakes.
Appleby also saddles Royal Power, a course-and-distance winner and recent Listed scorer in Abu Dhabi, while George Boughey’s Survive enters off a solid campaign that includes success in the Winter Derby Trial and a placing in the G1 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Simon & Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows, runner-up in the Abu Dhabi Championship, completes the lineup and adds further depth to an already competitive field.
Ultimately, however, the spotlight remains firmly on Calandagan and Rebel’s Romance. In a historic race defined by prestige and history, their meeting has all the ingredients of a modern classic, one that could shape the narrative of the 2026 turf season.
Race 8: Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1)
Post Time: 8:10pm Purse: $6,000,000 Distance: 2,410m (Turf)
Likely Runners:
• Calandagan (IRE) France Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
• Ethical Diamond (IRE) Ireland Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Rebel’s Romance (IRE) UAE Trainer: Charlie Appleby
• Giavellotto (IRE) UK Trainer: Marco Botti
• Pride Of Arras (IRE) UK Trainer: Ralph Beckett
• Royal Power (FR) UAE Trainer: Charlie Appleby
• Survie (IRE) UK Trainer: George Boughey
• West Wind Blows (IRE) UAE Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
