Notable Speech lights up Woodbine to book Breeders’ Cup return

Classic-winning colt Notable Speech recorded his first victory since last season’s G1 Sussex Stakes as he powered to victory in the G1 Woodbine Mile on Saturday, earning the four-year-old a return trip to Del Mar for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The 2,000 Guineas hero had posted several strong efforts in defeat over the past 12 months, notably going down by a length in third in November’s Breeders’ Cup Mile and flashing home to finish a head second in August’s Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Notable Speech is the third Godolphin horse to win the Woodbine Mile following Modern Games and Master Of The Seas. Both previous victors went on to score in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Notable Speech looks strongly placed to avenge his narrow defeat in last year’s race.

With the E P Taylor course at Woodbine currently being resurfaced, Saturday’s races were run on the inner turf course, and Godolphin’s two-year-old runners on the card struggled to adapt to the tight circuit and style of racing.

Wild Desert quickened powerfully from the rear to take second in the G1 Summer Stakes, while Dance To The Music also made late gains following a slow start to finish fourth in the G1 Natalma Stakes. Having gained valuable experience of North America, both could yet join Notable Speech at Del Mar.

Godolphin’s remarkable record in the G2 Run To The Rose continued on Saturday as Tempted became the sixth royal blue winner of the Rosehill contest in the space of seven years – emulating Bivouac, Anamoe, In Secret, Cylinder and Traffic Warden.

The only filly in the field, Tempted stormed to an easy victory over Beiwacht on her first outing for Ciaron Maher. All five of Godolphin’s recent winners went on to run in the G1 Golden Rose two weeks later and Tempted looks set to follow the same route, with The Everest next month a tantalising option for the three-year-old.

Pinatubo colt Komorebi emerged with plenty of credit on his Pattern debut as he finished second in the G3 Prix La Rochette. Fellow two-year-old Avicenna also looks to have a bright future after winning the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.

A stellar 2024 in North America received more recognition at the TOBA National Awards Dinner in Lexington on Saturday, 6 September, with Godolphin receiving both the National Breeder of the Year and National Owner of the Year awards for the fourth consecutive year.

Godolphin also picked up the leading owner title at Kentucky Downs for second time, with five winners at this year’s meeting.