Notable Speech delivers Del Mar masterclass in G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile

Notable Speech provided Godolphin with a fourth G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile success in the space of five years with a sensational display at Del Mar on Saturday, 1 November. 

Charlie Appleby and William Buick had teamed up to win the race with Dubawi homebreds Space Blues (2021), Modern Games (2022) and Master Of The Seas (2023), with Notable Speech, also by the same sire, having finished a length third 12 months ago. 

Notable Speech returned to California having overcome a slow start to take the G1 Woodbine Mile in September but the four-year-old broke on terms this time and soon tracked the leaders in sixth on the rail. 

Formidable Man relegated Notable Speech to seventh at the halfway point before William Buick started to make stealthy headway approaching the home straight. 

Longtime leader One Stripe shifted out at the top of the lane, allowing Notable Speech to quicken up the inside rail to mount his challenge. Last season’s G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Sussex Stakes winner unleashed his customary electric turn of foot, reeling in Rhetorical entering the final half-furlong before streaking clear to score by an easy length and a half over Formidable Man. 

Hugh Anderson, Managing Director of Godolphin (UK and Dubai), said: “What Charlie and Will have done with Notable Speech over two or three years now is fabulous. They have completely worked him out. Well done to Will for using that amazing final furlong [speed] – the pace was extraordinary. I am delighted for the whole team and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. We love Del Mar and we love the Breeders’ Cup.” 

Charlie Appleby said: “Notable Speech was the highest-profile horse we had ever brought to the Breeders’ Cup when he ran last year and he’s tailor made for this track. I think his experience of Woodbine last time out has been the making of him coming into today’s race. 

“Will’s ride around there was copybook. He got the horse out and got a nice pitch. We said we could be two or three back and I was confident turning for home because I knew, once the cutaway came, he would be able to use that electric turn of foot we have seen throughout his career.” 

William Buick added: “I have been everything on this horse, a hero and a villain, but Charlie always fills me with great confidence. When your trainer gives you that confidence to do what’s right by the horse in the race, it helps. 

“Notable Speech broke better today than we hoped he would – we were fearful of him breaking as slow as he did in the Woodbine Mile – but he broke better. We were two rows back, but we were always going to ride the inside. When it comes off, it looks great and when it doesn’t, you’re a villain! 

“He is a very good horse. He’s a 2,000 Guineas winner, a Sussex Stakes winner and should have won the Prix Jacques Le Marois this year. He was probably unlucky here last year, when he just lacked that two-turn mile experience. You could see this year that he was a different horse, he was much hardier and readied himself behind horses beautifully.”