By Sean Cronin
Joseph O'Brien trainee Rebel Moon (Lope De Vega), a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, was kept under wraps for most of Thursday evening's Irish Injured Jockeys Fillies Maiden at Gowran Park and needed every yard of the extended nine-furlong trip to secure an ultimately impressive debut win.
“She's obviously a well-bred filly and, first time out, we were keen that she relaxed well,” explained O'Brien. “We liked what we were seeing from her at home, but I thought she'd be a bit green for here first time. When Joey [Sheridan] asked her in the last furlong I thought she was impressive. She was well bought by Kieran [Lalor] and she looks like a nice filly. The [Listed] Salsabil may come a bit soon and we could maybe go to the [Listed] Cheshire Oaks in May.”
Settled last of the seven runners until inching into sixth at halfway, Al Shira'aa Racing's 8-1 chance made eyecatching headway out wide in the straight and found plenty under late rousting to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths from Sounds Great (Churchill).
Rebel Moon is the eighth of 10 foals and sixth scorer produced by a dual-winning half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed Listed Chesham Stakes victrix September (Deep Impact), stakes-winning G3 Blue Wind Stakes third Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah) and the dual Group-placed Sir John Hawkins (Henrythenavigator). Her second dam is multiple Group 1-winning European champion Peeping Fawn (Danehill), herself a half to G1 Criterium International-winning sire Thewayyouare (Kingmambo). The winner is kin to the stakes-winning duo Alzire (Shamardal) and Pemba Bay (Blue Point) as well as the dual Group 2-placed Tasman Bay (Le Havre) and the stakes-placed Palmyre (Dansili). She is also a half-sister to a yearling filly by Baaeed and a weanling colt by Not This Time.
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500,000gns buy Rebel Moon (Lope De Vega) finishes with a flourish on racecourse debut and looks a nice one for the flying-along @josephobrien2@GowranPark1 | @alshiraaracing pic.twitter.com/jywJQp7kNU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 9, 2026
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