Godolphin has dominated recent editions of the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), winning with Space Blues, Modern Games, and Master of the Seas, the latter narrowly edging fellow Godolphin colorbearer Mawj at Santa Anita last November.
Master of the Seas is on track for a Mile title defense at Del Mar this fall, but stablemate Notable Speech might wind up the horse to beat, if he shows, after a sterling rebound win in the Sussex (G1) at Goodwood on Wednesday.
A brilliant winner of the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in May, Notable Speech lost his unbeaten status when a puzzling seventh of eight in the St James’s Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot last month to Rosallion, who was scratched from the Sussex due to a respiratory infection.
“When you have an unbeaten classic winner going into a St James’s Palace Stakes and you’re beaten the way we were, of course you walk away disappointed,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “But I was happier to be beaten the way we were than to finish second or third and say we weren’t good enough. He just didn’t turn up, simple as that.”
The chestnut son of Dubawi was back on song Wednesday, delivering by 1 1/2 lengths over older rivals Maljoom and Facteur Cheval, who were separated by a neck for second.
The 5-2 second choice in the World Pool, Notable Speech saved ground in behind 4-5 favorite Henry Longfellow, the St James’s Palace runner-up who cut out the pace while being pressed by Sonny Liston. Jockey Will Buick sent Notable Speech inside of Henry Longfellow after reaching the cutaway and surged ahead to win.
Notable Speech finished up the mile in 1:35.97 over ground listed as good to firm, good in places. He paid $7.20 in the World Pool.
The Sussex was a Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, thereby giving Notable Speech a spot in the race should his connections choose to accept the bid.
“We haven’t really made a plan – we just wanted to make sure we nailed today,” Appleby said. “Of course we’d love to go to America. He’s learning week on week and maturing, so I wouldn’t rule it out of the equation.”
