By Tom Frary
Newmarket's opening mile novice on Saturday had 2026 Oaks written all over it and it will be no surprise if Godolphin's Romantic Symphony (Dubawi) is one of the main players heading to the Epsom Classic in June. While the newcomer's 3/4-of-a-length winning margin was not flashy, everything about her pedigree suggests this is very much the beginning.
“She has a nice stout pedigree to her. We came up here knowing that the trip would suit her and there is no doubt about it that the experience, and stepping up in trip further in time, will bring about improvement,” Charlie Appleby said of the full-sister to the Group 1 and Grade I winners Yibir and Wild Illusion.
“The [Listed] Montrose might be something to look at,” he added. “She did like that sound surface and I'm not too sure she would want it too soft, which it can be at that time of year. I think there would be sharper fillies around than her to consider the Fillies' Mile. I'm pleased with that for her first day at school and if she is anything like her family then she should stay a mile and a half next year.”
Sent off the 10-11 favourite for this contest won in recent times by the stable's subsequent Group winners Magic Lily and Beautiful Love, Romantic Symphony was always travelling easily for Billy Loughnane and was able to overhaul the experienced George Boughey-trained Tryst (Sottsass) in the final furlong and stay on best.
Another eye-catcher in one truly for the notebooks was the third Forever True (Siyouni), Lady Bamford's John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred who was a head further behind and one we are sure to be hearing a lot more about.
Aside from producing Dubawi's Breeders' Cup Turf hero Yibir and Prix de l'Opera, Prix Marcel Boussac and Nassau heroine Wild Illusion, Romantic Symphony's Listed-winning dam Rumh (Monsun) is also responsible for Shamardal's Really Special who captured the Montrose that Appleby is targeting with this filly. Wild Illusion is now the dam of this year's Listed Aphrodite Stakes scorer Spirited Style (Sea The Stars), while Really Special has gone on to produce Dubawi's Listed Silver Tankard Stakes winner Local Dynasty.
Romantic Symphony's second dam is the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Royal Dubai (Dashing Blade), whose half-siblings include the GI Beverly D. Stakes heroine and Stakes producer Royal Highness (Monsun). This is also the family of the Dubai World Cup hero Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) and the Deutsches Derby winner Robertico (Robellino). Rumh's yearling filly is by Sea The Stars, while she also has a foal full-brother to Romantic Symphony.
1st-Newmarket, £10,000, Novice, 9-20, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.47, gd.
ROMANTIC SYMPHONY (IRE), f, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Rumh (Ger) (SW-Eng), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,943. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby.
🔵 Romantic Symphony (Dubawi x Rumh) is related to a host of top-class performers & makes a winning debut for @godolphin at HQ pic.twitter.com/Lz7vArp7RJ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 20, 2025
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