York starting to look favourite for Notable Speech Charlie Appleby is “70-30” in favour of skipping a trip to France with Notable Speech and dropping back to seven furlongs for the Sky Bet City of York Stakes. The leading miler secured the fifth top-level success of his career when landing the Lockinge earlier in the season and all roads looked to be headed towards Deauville later this month in an attempt to go one better than his narrow Prix Jacques le Marois defeat to Diego Velazquez 12 months ago. However, the Moulton Paddocks handler is now tempted to hold fire an extra week and target the Knavesmire instead for what would be only his second appearance over shorter than a mile. City of York Stakes Favoured for Notable Speech “Notable Speech is in good form,” said Appleby. “We’ve been looking towards the Prix Jacques le Marois, but we’ve also very much got an eye on going to York for the City of York Stakes. “I think seven (furlongs) with a big field will suit him. In all honesty if you ask me right now, I’d say we’re 70/30 at the moment we’ll end up going to York.” With Notable Speech a possible for York, the door is ajar for stablemate Opera Ballo to fill his pace on the plane to Canada for the Woodbine Mile, a race Notable Speech won last year before following up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Opera Ballo Primed for North American Campaign That latter event is also on Opera Ballo’s agenda and although the Sussex Stakes third could meet Bow Echo once again at Keeneland later in the year, Appleby is confident his colt could be seen to great effect when crossing the Atlantic. “He’s come out of the Sussex well as in he’s sound and fit,” said Appleby. “He was tired needless to say, as I think a few of them were. They all probably had a lie in the next day. “I’m sticking to Plan A which is to take him to Canada. I want to get him there as I think the tracks and style of racing will suit him, going round the bend and an easier mile. “Doing what he does, if they’re going quick enough and if you get a lead on him then great, if he goes and makes it himself, it wouldn’t worry me as you can get away with it over there. Here, going up and down dale, where they won’t ease off on you, is a different ball game. “Hopefully that will lead into a Breeders’ Cup. I know we might meet Bow Echo again, but the weights will be different there and as we know, you need a lot of luck around those American tracks – if you are drawn 14 of 14 it can make life a bit different.”
