Notable Speech wows at Woodbine again Notable Speech teed himself up for the defence of his Breeders’ Cup crown by winning his second Woodbine Mile on Saturday. Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old returned to Canada in search of a seventh victory at the highest level, a record which includes triumphs in the 2000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes two years ago and the Lockinge and City of York Stakes this season. With William Buick forgoing big-race rides at Doncaster and Leopardstown to maintain the partnership, Notable Speech was a hot favourite to go back-to-back at Woodbine and the chestnut showed off his trademark acceleration to run down Deterministic and win comfortably. Speaking on the Godolphin website, Appleby said: “I am delighted for Notable Speech, who has proven an ultra-consistent horse throughout his career and deserves each of his seven G1 wins. He is a testament to the whole team at home and a real favourite in the yard. “We will give him a little break now before heading back to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.” Buick added: “It was quite a tactical race, and Notable Speech showed his quality, having had to fight for a bit of space at the top of the straight. “I was looking to follow Deterministic down the back straight but that position just wasn’t available, so I took the next best spot. Notable Speech has a true turn of foot, so I was never that worried. “He is so versatile and his resolution is amazing. He is a joy to ride. “Notable Speech has all the attributes a champion miler needs, including a great racing brain. As he has showed here today and last year, he does not mind a one-turn mile or a two-turn mile.” Appleby and Buick were completing a Grade One double on the card, with Al Hudaiba – winner of Newmarket’s Superlative Stakes before finishing a close-up third in the Vintage at Goodwood – having earlier stamped his class on the Bet365 Summer Stakes. Appleby, celebrating a landmark 100th Group or Grade One victory, said: “I am very pleased to get a Grade One win with Al Hudaiba, who looked the class horse going into the race based on what he had achieved in Europe. “He has gained experience of racing in North America now and we can look forward to having a crack at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”
