With Rosallion a scratch, Notable Speech steps up in Sussex Stakes

Notable Speech rebounded from a disappointing performance at Royal Ascot in June, and the absence of a leading rival, to win his second Group 1 race of 2024 in Wednesday’s $1.28 million Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in Britain.

Benefiting from a stalking trip, Notable Speech, who paid $7.20 in American pools, rallied from third in a field of five to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 6-1 Maljoom.

The win gave Notable Speed a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Ridden by William Buick, Notable Speech followed 4-5 favorite Henry Longfellow until the final furlong when he closed on the inside. Goodwood has an inside passing lane in the stretch where a temporary rail ends, allowing runners stalking the pace to have running room on that side of the track without closing on the outside.

Using that path, Notable Speech took the lead in the final furlong. Maljoon finished a neck in front of 7-2 Facteur Chevel, a shipper from France. Henry Longfellow faded to finish fourth, followed by Sonny Liston, a longshot.

Henry Longfellow inherited the role of favorite after Rosallion was scratched on Tuesday because of a respiratory infection. Rosallion was second to Notable Speech in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4, and later in the spring won two Group 1 races for 3-year-olds at a mile – the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18.

Henry Longfellow and Notable Speech were second and seventh in a field of eight in the St. James’s Palace Stakes.

Notable Speech, by Dubawi, has won 4 of 5 starts, including his first three starts in one-mile races on the synthetic track at Kempton Park outside of London from late January to early April.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing and trained by Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech has raced only at a mile in his brief career.

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Appleby told the press after Wednesday’s win that Notable Speech “just didn’t turn up, simple as that” in the St. James’s Palace Stakes.

“The question will probably always be asked, and I will probably never have the answer to is, unfortunately.”

Appleby said Notable Speech has been brighter in recent training.

“He looked great and pre-race we shaved a couple of [pounds] off him again,” he said. “What that winning or losing? I don’t think so, to be honest. I think he is just a horse who turned up with his 'A' game again. He got a great trip around there.

“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.”

Godolphin and Appleby have won the last three runnings of the BC Mile – with Space Blues at Del Mar in 2021, Modern Games at Keeneland in 2022, and Master of The Seas at Santa Anita in 2023.

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