Notable Speech hits rivals for six in G1 City Of York Stakes

Notable Speech added another string to his decorated bow as he secured a sixth G1 success, and first over seven furlongs, with an authoritative display in the City Of York Stakes on Saturday, 22 August. 

All five of the future Darley stallion’s previous top-level wins had come over a mile on good or quicker ground, including swooping victories in the 2,000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Mile. 

With conditions at York riding on the easy side of good, William Buick settled Notable Speech closer to the pace and the Dubawi entire tracked Marvelman on the inside rail before the duo came across to join the main field early in the straight. 

Marvelman continued to blaze a trail in front until Notable Speech quickened strongly to take up the running approaching the final furlong. The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old readily opened up daylight, crossing the line nearly three lengths clear of Lake Forest and Marvelman. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Notable Speech fully deserved today’s win. We came here feeling that he was in great order, but we were concerned about the ground. We rode him differently and I told William to be slightly more positive than normal, to try and keep him travelling for as long as possible before seeing whether he would allow himself to quicken. I was pleased to see the field come over to the stands’ rail, which is a fresher strip of ground. 

“I still believe he could have been very competitive in a July Cup, but the field split the time he ran in it and it was never an ideal situation. He has shown his versatility on trip and ground today, which gives us the confidence heading back to the Breeders’ Cup. We don’t know what sort of conditions we might encounter at Keeneland in the autumn, but he has shown he can be versatile. 

“I think it’s probably straight to the Breeders’ Cup Mile now. The plan was to come here and cement another G1 for a horse who is in the final year of his career. I am delighted that he has achieved that – when you get horses that are still winning races like this at four and five, you really have to take your hat off to them. He has shown his durability and hopefully he will take those attributes on to his stud career. 

“We are allowed to give these horses the opportunity to do it and that is full credit to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin for letting us keep these horses in training, as it would be very easy to retire a horse like him.”

William Buick added: “The ground was a definite worry and I thought Charlie was very brave to run Notable Speech. He had the faith and the confidence in the horse, who showed his class. I think it was very important to try and get over as far as we could towards the stands’ side because the ground is a little fresher there." 

“He’s a great horse and a super miler – we always thought he had enough speed for six furlongs and now he’s won over seven here. Credit to everyone at home and Charlie because it’s a great training performance.”