Tag Archive for: Notable Speech

Appleby has every chance of continuing Mile domination

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When it comes to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Charlie Appleby has been an unstoppable force and he now goes for a record fourth straight success with 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech at Del Mar on Saturday.

The Moulton Paddocks handler’s winning run began right here in the San Diego suburbs with Space Blues in 2021 and he has saddled Modern Games and Master Of The Seas to take home the prize for the last two years.

However, he now runs arguably his best contender yet in his Classic-winning son of Dubawi, who has shown his aptitude for a tight turning track when winning at Kempton in his early days and then his quality for red-hot assignments by scoring not only at Newmarket in the spring, but also in the Sussex Stakes.

Notable Speech (centre) made his first three appearances at Kempton
Notable Speech (centre) made his first three appearances at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

Appleby said: “Notable Speech is in great form. If they go hard they will come back, but he’s one of those horses you would be comfortable about wherever he is during the race.

“He’s drawn six. I didn’t want to be any wider, but that gate still gives William (Buick, jockey) options. He’s an exciting horse and is, with his 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes wins, the highest-profile horse I’ve ever brought out here.”

Notable Speech was sunk by the ground in the Prix du Moulin last time out, with Appleby adding: “We know he doesn’t want soft ground, but he travelled and settled well and all the signs are good.”

The race lost some of its spice when Christopher Head’s Ramatuelle was ruled out of the race on Friday, but Notable Speech still faces a worthy adversary in Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna.

Porta Fortuna (left) winning the Matron Stakes
Porta Fortuna (left) winning the Matron Stakes (Healy Racing/PA Wire)

Second in the 1000 Guineas before landing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, she has since cemented herself as one of Europe’s leading performers at the distance by adding Group One victories in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes.

“She ran a belter in the Guineas first time out and after that, she hasn’t missed a beat since,” said O’Brien.

“We’ve had a great year with her, it’s great to bring her back here and hopefully we can finish the year on a high.

“She’s trained very well, we’re very happy with her, she’s healthy and happy and everything has gone to plan, so all is good so far.”

Porta Fortuna will be partnered by Tom Marquand and the trip to Del Mar represents a chance to go one better than when just touched off at Santa Anita 12 month’s ago.

O’Brien added: “We learned last year that she handles it very well, she handles the travel good and she’s travelled over well again this year.

“You can never be sure how they will cope with a long flight like that and adjusting over here, it can be very different for them, but she’s got a great temperament, so we’re lucky that way.”

Donnacha’s father Aidan O’Brien will not have a runner after Diego Velazquez was scratched. Chad Brown’s Carl Spackler and Tim Yakteen’s Johannes appear the pick of the US contingent, both arriving on a winning streak.

‘He’s a big player’ – Appleby looking forward to Rebel’s Romance

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Returning champion Rebel’s Romance and the “very dangerous” Notable Speech are set to lead Charlie Appleby’s small but highly select team into battle at the Breeders’ Cup next week.

Globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance will be looking to regain the Breeders’ Cup Turf title he lifted in 2022 off the back another fine campaign which has seen him win Group One prizes in Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany, as well as finish third in the King George at Ascot.

Appleby believes the six-year-old will return to California as a “big player” on Saturday week.

Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the Breeders' Cup
Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Rebel’s Romance is an international star, as we know. He’s been rock solid all year, even in his defeat at Ascot he went down with a lot of credit,” said Appleby at Newmarket on Wednesday.

“We purposely gave him a little bit of a break. We toyed with the idea of going to America, but we decided to stay a little bit closer to home and go to Germany for a race he’d won before and he spring-boarded from that into a Breeders’ Cup win.

“We all know the draw is important around Del Mar or Santa Anita, but over a mile and a half you’re a little bit more relaxed about it because you’re able to ride your race over that trip.

“If he goes there and ticks all the boxes whilst he’s there, he’s a big player.”

Notable Speech goes for the Breeders’ Cup Mile with a point to prove, having twice disappointed since his brilliant 2000 Guineas victory in May, which was preceded by three victories on the Polytrack at Kempton Park.

The Dubawi colt was well beaten in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp, but did win the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in between and Appleby – who has won the last three runnings of the Mile – is hopeful he will show his true colours at Del Mar.

He added: “With Notable Speech, his challenge is going to be the travelling and the week there. For a horse that as soon as you pull him out of his stable and he’s as good as gold and you’d think he was a pony leading round, he challenges himself a little bit.

“What we did learn and what we were very happy with was what we saw at Longchamp. We learned he travels and settled in well and doesn’t handle soft ground, so it was always going to be straight to the Breeders’ Cup after that.

“If he gets a good draw and has a good week there, he’s going to be very dangerous because it’s something everyone has had on their minds since Kempton to be honest with you, before the Guineas.”

Aomori City winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood
Aomori City winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Moulton Paddocks handler plans to be fire a twin assault at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, with Al Qudra set to be joined by stablemate Aomori City, while he will also saddle two runners in the Filly & Mare Turf.

Of the juvenile pair, Appleby said: “I genuinely can’t split them on what they’ve achieved on the racecourse and it could come down to the draw.

“From William’s (Buick) point of view, and we’ve spoken in depth over the few days, it’s a hard one for him. He could go and pick either horse and get drawn 14, or if you’re lucky and get drawn six you’ve got a chance.

“Looking at the field I think that’s how it’s going to play out, I don’t think there’s a standout horse in the race. Both have got plenty of experience and one has obviously got experience over there.

“Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love are in the Filly & Mare. Both have got experience over there now, Cinderella’s Dream has a higher profile being a Grade One winner out there and a Grade Two winner on her last start. I feel she’ll be a live player.

“The other filly will see the trip out well and deserves to be in the line-up after what she has achieved out there. She’s a Grade Three winner and you could probably say she was unlucky on her last start.”

Appleby’s squad for the two-day fixture is completed by Star Of Mystery in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

He added: “Star Of Mystery is rock solid. She was just touched off the other day and was probably a bit unlucky, but I was relaxed watching it as it was very much a pipe-opener ahead of the Breeders’ Cup.

“She’s small, she’s quick and has experience over there now. It’s always going to be tougher taking on the colts and the older horses, but she’s shown her worth by running creditably in the Al Quoz and doing what she’s done in America and deserves to be there.”

Notable Speech on course for Breeders’ Cup Mile challenge

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Charlie Appleby is confident Notable Speech has all the attributes to thrive at Del Mar when the 2000 Guineas hero will attempt to become the trainer’s fourth straight winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Moulton Paddocks handler has farmed the race in recent years, with Space Blues, Modern Games and Master Of The Seas all striking in the Stateside showpiece for the Godolphin trainer.

However, it is easy to argue that his Classic-winning son of Dubawi will be the best he has saddled in the event, with the colt a best priced 7-2 to make it four in a row in California.

He has already shown he is capable of bouncing back from a disappointing display once this term, when leaving his St James’s Palace defeat behind him to claim the Sussex Stakes, and will have to do so again having suffered a second loss in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp last month.

Testing ground in the French capital stunted his trademark turn of foot on that occasion, in a race dominated from the front by Andre Fabre’s Tribalist.

However, Appleby is taking the positives from his trip to the French capital and following an easy time in the aftermath of that reversal, is getting ready to turn up the intensity ahead of Notable Speech’s American adventure.

“America is still the aim and he’s in good order,” said Appleby.

“We’re just going through the motions at the minute but we’ll start to wind him up over the coming weeks.

“Until you have actually been on one of those trips, you don’t really know, but we were pleased at Longchamp by the way he conducted himself on the travelling side of it.

“We had to try the ground to know whether we were going to go to Ascot (for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) or not, but the one box he did tick is he travelled well.

“Going to America, you would say he is tailor-made for the mile – he will be going a couple of turns and he travels well. All we do need on the day is a good draw.”

Charyn and Notable Speech could cross swords in mouthwatering Moulin

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Roger Varian is considering another tilt at French Group One glory with Charyn, meaning a mouthwatering showdown with 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech could be on the cards in the Prix du Moulin.

Owned by Nurlan Bizakov, the grey colt has hit new heights this season and produced a career-best when he shone in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time out.

There he finished three lengths ahead of Metropolitan to register his fourth victory in five starts in 2024, with it also a second success at the highest level for the four-year-old miler.

A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville
A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville (PA)

It was thought the son of Dark Angel could head straight to Ascot for a shot at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day, but the Carlburg Stables handler has hinted at a run before October’s showpiece meeting at ParisLongchamp on September 8.

“He came out really well (from Deauville), I couldn’t be more pleased with his condition and we are considering the Moulin in a couple weeks’ time,” Varian said.

“The QEII is his big autumn target and it was whether we went straight there or Longchamp on the way, and just looking at his condition and his demeanour and how well he’s come out of Deauville.

“I think we will look at Longchamp on the way to the QEII. The ground doesn’t really concern us at Ascot, he’s one of those remarkable horses that goes as well on good to firm as he does on heavy and vice versa. He doesn’t seem to have a ground preference.

“He is thriving but he has a remarkable constitution, he’s got a great mind and an amazing physique. He was on the go early in March and he doesn’t seem to be tapering off.

“He had a little break after Ascot before the Jacques le Marois and that should stand him in good stead for the autumn.”

Notable Speech returned to winning ways at Goodwood
Notable Speech returned to winning ways at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Firmly on course for a trip to the French capital next month is Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech, who took full advantage of the absence of Rosallion when bouncing back from his Royal Ascot disappointment at Goodwood.

The Classic winner came through an away day at Newmarket’s July course on Friday morning in pleasing fashion as he prepares for his potential outing on the continent.

Appleby’s assistant trainer Alex Merriam said: “It all went well, it was nothing too serious, it was just to get him away from home on some nice ground. We were all happy and the plan is to go to the Moulin.”

Rosallion may return to action in Prix du Moulin

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Rosallion could head to the Prix du Moulin having missed out on a third clash with Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes.

Richard Hannon’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot hero was the favourite to take a 2-1 lead in his rivalry with Charlie Appleby’s Classic winner at Goodwood, but was cruelly ruled out of the race on Tuesday due to a respiratory infection.

In Rosallion’s absence, Notable Speech took full advantage to bounce back from his St James’s Palace Stakes disappointment and add a second Group One to his Newmarket success earlier in the season.

Although frustrated the colt he holds in the highest regard never got the opportunity to replicate the Everleigh team’s Canford Cliffs and Toronado, Hannon was full of praise for the resurgent winner, while suggesting the ParisLongchamp Group One on September 8 is a possibility for his star performer.

Hannon told Racing TV: “I thought the winner won very well, gutted not to be there obviously, but I’d rather not take part than stand there afterwards thinking ‘what just happened’?

“It’s a big shame for Goodwood, a lot of people have come up to me in the last couple of days to say ‘I’m very sorry about your horse’ and that’s lovely.

“Nobody died and he’s there to fight another day, and because he’s the horse that we know he is, we’ll take no chances. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid (owner) was very keen that we looked after him.

“The Moulin is a possibility, if we’re there in time. There’s loads of races after that.

“We did target this race, so we might have to rejig a bit, but he’ll be back in no time.”

Buick in no doubt Notable Speech and the Sussex Stakes was sport out of the top drawer

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William Buick was happy to heap praise on Notable Speech after likening his Qatar Sussex Stakes win to sporting excellence of the highest order.

Charlie Appleby’s Dubawi colt had an unconventional path to the 2000 Guineas, running three times on the all-weather at Kempton and arriving at Newmarket having never raced on turf before.

Still, he had done enough to earn the confidence of Buick and the rider went into the Classic regarding his mount as a far greater threat than his starting price of 16-1 would suggest.

His faith proved to be well placed when Notable Speech won by a length and a half from Rosallion, but when the two met again in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot it was the latter horse who really shone.

The Guineas winner could only finish seventh and left both Buick and Appleby scratching their heads when no obvious explanation surfaced, meaning they simply had to regroup for the rematch when both horses were declared for the Sussex Stakes.

Notable Speech and William Buick after victory in the Sussex Stakes
Notable Speech and William Buick after victory in the Sussex Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

A respiratory infection ruled Rosallion out of the eagerly-anticipated clash and denied fans the head-to-head they had been anticipating, but Buick felt Notable Speech’s length-and-a-half triumph from Maljoom was a sporting feat in itself.

He said: “I rode in Kingman’s Sussex when he won (in 2014). There were only four runners, but I watched him from behind accelerate. I never like to compare horses, but you could visually see his acceleration. That was amazing to watch.

“I am on this horse’s back and I might be biased, but he has done something similar. It was instant. In that level of race, at the type of pace they are going at already, to have another gear or even two? It’s a rarity.

“Of course it takes your breath away. I’m privileged to be in the position I am in, but this is what we do it for – the big days.”

While the world is captivated by the Olympic feats happening in Paris, Buick feels it is horses like Notable Speech who provide racing with the same sporting drama on the racecourse.

“This, in my opinion, is how we will draw an outside crowd into racing,” he said.

“To watch excellence, to watch a real good race when top horses are battling it out. I’d buy into this all day long. I stuck my neck out after Newmarket about him and after Ascot we had to regroup. But here we are again.

“You are watching excellent sport – this is Wimbledon, this is the Ryder Cup and the Champions League. This is the highest echelon of our sport.”

Notable Speech returns to brilliant best in Sussex Stakes

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Notable Speech may have been denied a “duel on the Downs” decider with old rival Rosallion but nevertheless bounced back to his brilliant best in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Having run a long way below his 2000 Guineas form at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Charlie Appleby-trained colt had questions to answer.

Even without Rosallion in the field Notable Speech was still not favourite, with that honour going to Henry Longfellow. But having attempted to make all, Aidan O’Brien’s Ascot runner-up looked a sitting duck at the cutaway.

William Buick was sat with a double handful on Notable Speech and just like he had shown at Newmarket, the Dubawi colt quickened up in an instant and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

In doing so the 3-1 chance emulated Frankel, who was the last Guineas winner to win the Sussex Stakes in the same season.

The William Haggas-trained Maljoom stayed on to finish second, a length and a half away, with last year’s second Facteur Cheval close-up in third for Jerome Reynier.

Appleby said: “First and foremost, I feel for Richard (Hannon) and all the team there with Rosallion, one thing we wanted was the ‘duel on the Downs’. To have two Classic winners coming here would have been fantastic.

“There was still plenty of strength in depth there with the three-year-old in Henry Longfellow and the older horses there.

“It was a race that still had to be won and you always hope that the Classic winner is going to come ahead and do that. He’s done that today and in spades, I’m delighted.”

He continued: “Disappointment always kicks in when you have an unbeaten horse and a Guineas winner beaten.

The Qatar Goodwood Festival – Day Two – Goodwood Racecourse
Notable Speech ridden by William Buick winning the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA).

“But as I’ve always been taught, and I’m lucky to have the team and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed behind me, never look back, always look forward. Take the positives out of the situation and the positive was there was nothing there.

“Had the horse been lame or something out of the ordinary been there, you’d be disappointed with the result but also disappointed you’ve got a bit of an uphill challenge in front of you. Thankfully, there wasn’t anything untoward and we just kept pressing forward as we are taught to do.

“After Ascot, our main aim was to get back on track here. Going forward, will he stretch any further? I don’t think so. There’s no reason to go beyond a mile, people might mention the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“The one thing about this horse is that he’s maturing, he’s a laidback character going round the paddock and in the prelims. He’s got his little idiosyncrasies there that just show immaturity.

The Qatar Goodwood Festival – Day Two – Goodwood Racecourse
Jockey William Buick celebrates after winning the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA).

“From January onwards, he was running once a month and straight into a Guineas, it was a quick and steep learning curve for him.

“If anything, the only thing I can say from mine and the team’s point of view is that we could see there was immaturity there going into Ascot. Going into today, he’s become more of a man.”

A delighted Buick said: “He was just firing on all cylinders coming in here today. He was a brilliant Guineas winner with a very rare turn of foot, one you very rarely see, and we saw that again today.

“I’m delighted. Full credit to the team. They’ve done such a fantastic job to get him back after a disappointing run in the St James’s Palace Stakes, where we knew it was too bad to be true.

“He’s such a brilliant horse. He’s a horse that really excites you and it’s a real privilege to ride him.”

Notable Speech ‘looks a million dollars’ ahead of Sussex test

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Charlie Appleby is expecting Notable Speech to return to his brilliant best in Wednesday’s Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The Godolphin colt looked set to be the star miler of his generation when maintaining his unbeaten record in the 2000 Guineas, with runner-up Rosallion subsequently going one better in the Irish equivalent.

However, when they met again at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Rosallion came out on top as Notable Speech proved bitterly disappointing.

With Rosallion declared a non-runner on Tuesday morning due to a respiratory infection, round three of the rivalry will not take place at Goodwood as hoped, meaning Notable Speech has an even better opportunity to get his career back on track.

William Buick salutes the crowd as Notable Speech returns after winning the Guineas
William Buick salutes the crowd as Notable Speech returns after winning the Guineas (David Davies/PA)

“I’m looking forward to it. Nothing came out in the wash after Ascot, the vet did all the checks and nothing came of it,” said Appleby.

“It was one of those strange races to watch to be fair, and I’m still not going to use it as an excuse as to why we couldn’t finish third or fourth, but the way the race was run, it was always going to be very hard from where we were.

“You can spot horses lengths in maidens and handicaps, but you can’t spot Group One horses lengths round Ascot at that level and we were always having to chase.

“The disappointing thing from our part on that day was I wouldn’t have minded getting beat if he had run through the line, but he didn’t and that was the bit I took from it, to be honest.

“We gave him a bit of a break and from there on he hasn’t missed a beat. I think he looks a million dollars and I will be disappointed if you don’t like the way he looks on Wednesday.”

He went on: “I couldn’t have faulted him the way he went into Ascot, but his work has been very good at home again and he is showing all the right signs.

“He’s showing the signs of what we see on the racetrack – his speed, he’s got an electric turn of foot and he’s been showing us that over the last few weeks. I’m looking forward to it.”

Henry Longfellow ran a big race in defeat against Rosallion at Royal Ascot
Henry Longfellow ran a big race in defeat against Rosallion at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

In the absence of Rosallion, the biggest threat to Notable speech appears to be Aidan O’Brien’s St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up Henry Longfellow.

The Dubawi colt pushed Richard Hannon’s star to a neck at the royal meeting and O’Brien feels his charge has plenty of scope for improvement, given how his first run of the season in the French Guineas did not really pan out very well for him.

“We always thought he was a special horse and we were over the moon with his run at Royal Ascot,” said O’Brien.

“If we’d got a clearer run in France, we would have known more going into Ascot, so we went into Ascot just learning about him. There’s every chance he’ll progress.

“We think, as he’s only really had the one proper run this season, that there is more to come. Hopefully he’ll run well.”

Two years ago, William Haggas’ Maljoom looked a potential star and while it has been far from plain sailing since then with injuries, he ran a good race when a five-length third in the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting and now sports headgear for the first time.

Ahead of the latest British Champions Series event, Haggas said: “We are putting a pair of half-cup blinkers on him. He worked in them last week and he impressed me. They are not there to frighten him, but they will help his concentration.

“He’s going to find it tough against the three-year-olds, but he’s getting his confidence back and he’s in really good shape. I hope the ground continues to dry out, as the faster the better for him. I think he’ll be competitive.”

The field is completed by French raider Facteur Cheval, this year’s Dubai Turf winner before charting the wrong path in the Queen Anne, and Royal Hunt Cup runner-up Sonny Liston, who wasn’t disgraced when stepping up to Group Two company against Quddwah last time.

Appleby eager to take Sussex test with Notable Speech

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Charlie Appleby is looking forward to seeing Notable Speech get back on track in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The impressive 2000 Guineas winner ran no sort of race in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, meeting with the first defeat of his career.

However, he came through his latest piece of work with flying colours and his trainer expects him to bounce back after a thorough examination failed to reveal any issues.

“He worked on Saturday and I was pleased with him. It was on soft ground which was testing for him but he worked well,” said Appleby.

“It’s all systems go towards the Sussex now.

“I sat in the office the other morning with William (Buick) and we spoke in depth about him. We’ve been through him with a fine toothcomb and we’ve not found anything.

“Horses that campaign at that level, you often find something that needs a little bit of work because those at that level try harder but he was as clean as a whistle.

“We’ve just got to put a line through it and we’ll see where we are come the Sussex but he pleased in his work and we’re looking towards the Sussex.

“It’s a track that we feel would suit our fella, he’s a traveller. We’ve seen him at Kempton, we’ve seen him at Newmarket but I thought Ascot’s turning mile would suit him as well but we’ll probably never get to the bottom of it and now we move forward.

“If he’d finished third you just say ‘that’s as good as he is’ but we’ve just not turned up. All the form, as we know, is rock solid.”

Appleby will take stock with Notable Speech following Ascot disappointment

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Charlie Appleby was at a loss to explain the disappointing performance of Notable Speech after the 2000 Guineas hero beat just one horse home in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot – but raised the possibility of him being dropped in trip on his next start.

So impressive in winning his first three starts on the all-weather at Kempton, the Dubawi colt proved his top-level capabilities with a brilliant display on his turf debut in last month’s Rowley Mile Classic, beating the subsequent Irish Guineas winner Rosallion, who was again in opposition.

In a deep race that also featured the French Guineas victor Metropolitan, Notable Speech was the 6-4 favourite to confirm his status as number one in the three-year-old miling division – but after seemingly travelling strongly into the straight under William Buick, the response was limited once push came to shove and he eventually passed the post seventh of eight runners as Rosallion stole the show.

“We probably won’t have an explanation at this moment to be honest with you and Will rode his race as he has done many a time, we have always sat off the pace and he’s a horse who has always picked up when asked,” said Appleby.

“Will said when he pulled him out and asked him to pick up, he didn’t, and more importantly he didn’t run through the line, that is probably the biggest thing I’ll take out of it at the moment as well as getting beat.

“All seemed fine afterwards and there were no abnormalities, he just didn’t fire, which is disappointing when you look at the result and how it played out.

“We’ll see if anything comes out in the wash, and the one thing is, we always questioned the mile and whether that would be the end of his gauge. Whether this horse with racing has got quicker and so maybe coming back in trip might be what we need to be looking at.

“It’s exciting and there’s races for him like the Prix Jean Prat and a nice, sharp, turning Breeders’ Cup (Mile). It’s early days and with these unbeaten horses there is always disappointment when they get beaten. But the other side of it is, if you run them enough times, they will eventually get beaten.”

Just a neck behind Rosallion in second place was the Aidan O’Brien-trained Henry Longfellow, who bounced back from finishing only eighth after encountering a troubled passage in the French Guineas.

“We were delighted with him, he ran a great race and we think there is more to come,” said O’Brien.

“He didn’t have much of a race in France, it was a non event, so that is his first real race (of the season) today and he handled the ground. I think we will stay at a mile, looking at him today he could step up a little bit further, but we will see.

“Ryan (Moore) was surprised that the winner came and got him. I would imagine we could meet him again (in the Sussex) probably. We’re treating this as his first run and we learned about him today.”

Metropolitan was third for Mario Baratti, who said: “That’s racing. I find him quite unlucky; he’s a horse who is never travelling very strongly.

“I wouldn’t complain at Alexis (Pouchin); I’m happy with the ride, but he started galloping the last 200 metres when he had the gap. When he saw the horse coming along it was too late, the other two went already. But it was good to see that he is of the level to run with the best.

“I think we will stay at a mile again. With more pace early in the race, you never know, he might have got it. It wasn’t an easy race, but I’m very happy with the horse.”

St James’s Palace poised to be crowning glory for clash of the Classic winners

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Rosallion will face the “biggest test of his life” when he bids to turn the tables on his 2000 Guineas conqueror Notable Speech in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

This Group One event has often been the scene of a rematch from the opening Classic of the season and 10 years ago Rosallion’s trainer Richard Hannon watched Kingman gain revenge on his very own Newmarket hero Night Of Thunder at the Royal meeting.

Now it is the Everleigh handler seeking redemption for his star colt having lost bragging rights in the one-mile division on the Rowley Mile.

Rosallion did get his own Classic on the board when successful at the Curragh last month, but it is Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten son of Dubawi that poses the acid test for a horse Hannon has always held in the highest regard.

“We’ve been delighted with him since his win in the Irish Guineas and physically he looks like he has come on again,” said Hannon ahead of a race billed as one of the best of the meeting.

“I really couldn’t be happier with him, and like everyone I’m really looking forward to the race – it looks a fantastic race.

“I would rather be drawn one than the outside and I think that will be fine, there are no excuses from there.

“This is probably the biggest test of his life and he will have to be at his very best to win it. Whatever wins this will be an extremely good horse and I think there are probably four of five extremely good horses in there.”

Connections of Notable Speech are respectful of the challenge Rosallion presents, in a race that could firmly establish the one-mile pecking order, with Mario Baratti’s French 2000 Guineas scorer Metropolitan also in the mix.

“We’re always going to be wary of Rosallion because A) he’s a Group One winner and a Classic winner and B) he’s a son of Blue Point and we know what he could bring to Ascot – it was his favourite track,” said Appleby in a preview video on the Godolphin X account.

“We’re also being joined by the French Guineas winner, so it’s going to be a fascinating race, but we’re very pleased with our horse, the way he’s going it – he’s ticked every box.

“It’s billed to be the race of the week and let’s hope it is. We’re very much there with a horse that’s in great order.”

Big-race jockey William Buick is no doubt about Notable Speech’s powers of acceleration ahead of the British Champion Series contest.

William Buick all smiles with Notable Speech at Newmarket
William Buick all smiles with Notable Speech at Newmarket (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Buick said: “I don’t like to compare horses, but I’ve never ridden one before who can do what Notable Speech can do. He’s an extraordinary horse, and the way he won the Guineas was impressive.

“He’d had an unconventional preparation, but he’d shown a very good turn of foot in his last win at Kempton and he’d worked on the grass at Newmarket since then. He’s a very uncomplicated and laid-back character who does what he needs to. So far he’s shown no chinks.”

As well as Metropolitan, the French three-year-olds are also represented by Jerome Reynier’s Darlinghurst who brings smart form to the table and appears an improving colt.

The son of Dark Angel is unbeaten in four starts this season and having accounted for French Derby runner-up First Look when claiming the Group Three Prix de Guiche, has few scars of battle as he takes his place in this red-hot event.

“He hasn’t really had any tough battles or Classic races, so this is going to be like we say in France, his Arc,” said Reynier.

“I guess this became the plan when he won his Class Two in Cagnes-Sur-Mur. The times and the speed of his turn of foot was quite impressive and we said after that we would give him two months off and go for the Prix de Guiche on turf and then if he wins that we would aim to go to Royal Ascot with a chance.

“The way he won the Prix de Guiche with Christophe Soumillon on board was quite impressive and the form has been quite strong with First Look.”

Aidan O’Brien saddled Paddington to take home this prize 12 months ago and will have his first chance of the week to record his 400th Flat winner at the highest level when he saddles both Henry Longfellow and Unquestionable.

Henry Longfellow will be the mount of Ryan Moore
Henry Longfellow will be the mount of Ryan Moore (Damien Eagers/PA)

Both were top-class operators at two, with the former striking in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the latter at the Breeders’ Cup.

However, they struggled to land a blow in their respective early-season Classic assignments and are now required to bounce back to their very best against elite opposition.

“We’ve been very happy with Henry Longfellow since France and everything has gone well – we have just put the French race down as a bit of a non-event really,” O’Brien told Racing TV.

“It was our first run and we were just feeling our way really, but he came out of it well and we have been very happy with his work since. This was always his target after France and we’re looking forward to seeing him run again.

Unquestionable is a useful second string for Aidan O'Brien
Unquestionable is a useful second string for Aidan O’Brien (PA)

“We always thought the world of this horse, but obviously it is a very good race and that is what everybody wants and we’re delighted about. We’re all going to learn about all of them really, but we’re very happy and we wouldn’t be running if we weren’t happy and prepared to put him in there with a fighting chance.”

On Unquestionable, he added: “He ran a very solid race at the Curragh and was always going to improve from that, he’s a very solid horse.

“Obviously this was always going to be his second run and he was running at the Curragh with an eye on Ascot as well.”

Ed Walker’s Heron Stakes winner Almaqam and Owen Burrows’ 2000 Guineas fifth Alyanaabi complete the field for one of the opening day’s feature events.

Royal Ascot opens with a St James’s Palace cracker

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Three Guineas winners will clash on the opening day of Royal Ascot as Notable Speech, Rosallion and Metropolitan all stood their ground for Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes.

Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech enhanced his unbeaten record when getting the better of Rosallion in the opening Classic of the season at Newmarket, but Richard Hannon’s well-regarded colt achieved his own Classic glory when outbattling stablemate Haatem in the Irish equivalent.

Mario Baratti’s Metropolitan adds further spice having picked up the French version of the Guineas at ParisLongchamp, while the international challenge is bolstered by fellow French raider Darlinghurst who has won four in a row this term.

Henry Longfellow was down the field in the French capital and also takes his spot in a red-hot Group One event which features stablemate and Breeders’ Cup winner Unquestionable, Owen Burrows’ Alyanaabi and Ed Walker’s Heron Stakes hero Almaqam.

With three Group One events in the first four races, the action comes thick and fast and as expected Inspiral is an absentee from the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Big Rock returns to the scene of his brilliant British Champions Day success looking to claim a notable victory for new handler Maurizio Guarnieri, with Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval another leading contender for France representing Jerome Reynier.

Charyn and his Lockinge conqueror Audience are also involved, with the latter getting the nod to be the sole representative of John and Thady Gosden and owners Cheveley Park Stud in Inspiral’s absence.

Big Evs returns to Royal Ascot for the King Charles III Stakes
Big Evs returns to Royal Ascot for the King Charles III Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

Big Evs tops the 17 declared in the King Charles III Stakes as Mick Appleby’s Breeders’ Cup champion bids for back-to-back victories at the meeting, with Australian raider Asfoora, Haydock winners Believing and Kerdos, and Ed Bethell’s stable star Regional amongst the other contenders.

A full field will head to post for the Coventry Stakes – the first two-year-old event of the week – with Ballydoyle’s Camille Pissarro and Joseph O’Brien’s Cowardofthecounty both well fancied.

My Lyka will aim to give Willie Mullins a fourth Ascot Stakes in 10 years on his first Flat start for the Closutton handler, while Botanical will have his supporters amongst a field of 16 for the Listed Wolferton Stakes, bidding to enhance Roger Varian’s recent race record.

Mullins also has a strong hand in the closing Copper Horse handicap with Belloccio, a race the perennial Irish jumps trainer won last year with Vauban.

Notable Speech faces maximum of 10 rivals in St James’s Palace

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Notable Speech will face a maximum of 10 rivals at Royal Ascot when he bids to follow up his 2000 Guineas victory in Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes.

The son of Dubawi was making his turf debut in last month’s Rowley Mile Classic following a hat-trick of all-weather wins at Kempton and maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive display.

The form could hardly have worked out better with the second and third, Rosallion and Haatem, going on to finish first and second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Always the apple of Richard Hannon’s eye, Rosallion will try to turn the tables, although stablemate Haatem is more likely to run in the Jersey Stakes later in the week.

Aidan O’Brien has left in Henry Longfellow, Mountain Bear, River Tiber and Unquestionable, with the first-named seemingly the stable’s first string as he looks to bounce back from disappointment in the French Guineas at ParisLongchamp.

Mario Baratti’s French Guineas winner, Metropolitan, has been supplemented at a cost of £46,000 and will be joined on the trip across the Channel by Darlinghurst, who is four from four this year for Jerome Reynier.

Newmarket fifth Alyanaabi (Owen Burrows) and the lightly-raced Heron Stakes winner Almaqam (Ed Walker) complete the potential field.

Inspiral winning the 2022 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot
Inspiral winning the 2022 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Last year’s runner-up Inspiral is one of 16 in the mix for the Queen Anne Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s top-class mare was a brilliant winner of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot two years ago and came close to doubling her tally at the showpiece meeting when narrowly denied by shock winner Triple Time 12 months ago.

The four-year-old finished only fourth on her return to action in the Lockinge last month, but will be well fancied to bounce back in the traditional curtain-raiser.

The Gosdens have also confirmed the surprise Lockinge winner Audience, who slipped the field at Newbury after being deployed in a pacesetting role, while Big Rock and Facteur Cheval, first and second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, are both set to return from France.

Roger Varian’s Lockinge runner-up Charyn is another leading contender for the home team, but Simon and Ed Crisford’s unbeaten course winner Quddwah is a notable absentee.

Nineteen speedsters have been confirmed for the King Charles III Stakes, with Mick Appleby looking forward to saddling ante-post favourite Big Evs.

Winner of the Windsor Castle 12 months ago, the Blue Point colt went on to claim Breeders’ Cup glory and appeared to have lost none of his dash when making a successful start to his three-year-old campaign in the Westow Stakes at York last month.

“He came back with a good run back at York, winning quite well, and now all roads lead to Ascot in the King Charles,” Appleby told Tattersalls.

“It looks a very hot race, but hopefully we’ll be going there with a very live chance. He came out of the York race really well; I don’t think he had a very hard race there. He fluffed the start, which is very unlike him, but Tom (Marquand) looked very cool on him and gave him a good ride, so he didn’t really have a hard race.

Trainer Mick Appleby (right) with Big Evs
Trainer Mick Appleby (right) with Big Evs (Joe Giddens/PA)

“He went to York probably 95 per cent (fit), he wasn’t fully tuned up for that, we were using it as a prep run for Ascot.

“He is up there with all the best I’ve trained, definitely. Obviously, he is the best two-year-old we’ve ever had, so we’ll see what happens this year as to whether he’s the best we’ve ever had.”

Ed Bethell’s Regional, the Clive Cox-trained Temple Stakes winner Kerdos and Henry Dwyer’s Australian raider Asfoora all remain in contention, as does Crimson Advocate, winner of the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last year and poised to make her debut for the Gosdens after being bought by Wathnan Racing.

The Coventry Stakes is the first two-year-old race of the week and has attracted 31 initial entries, with Joseph O’Brien’s Cowardofthecounty and his father Aidan’s Camille Pissarro two of the major hopes.

‘All systems go’ for Notable Speech ahead of Rosallion rematch

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William Buick is relishing the next instalment of Notable Speech and Rosallion’s one-mile rivalry when the two 2000 Guineas winners meet in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Godolphin number one was the man on board Charlie Appleby’s Newmarket hero when he showed a blistering turn of foot to account for Richard Hannon’s charge in the opening Classic of the summer.

That race had a strong visual look to it and results since have only helped confirm that view, none more so than Rosallion gaining Classic redemption at the Curragh in the Irish equivalent.

Now the duo are set to clash once again on the opening day of the Royal meeting, in a race that promises to be one of the highlights of the whole week.

Buick told Racing TV: “I’ve been looking forward to riding him again since the Guineas and it’s all systems go for what is possibly the race of the season, you just have to look forward to it.

“I was impressed with Rosallion in Ireland and I thought Sean (Levey, jockey) gave him a very good ride. I thought he did well to get up when he did and he is a top-class miler, so the rematch is on.

“I haven’t ridden a miler that did what Notable Speech did that day in the Guineas. It was a huge performance he put in that day and you don’t see that very often. He is hugely exciting.”

Star milers headline Sussex Stakes entries

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Classic victors dominate the entries for the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, with this season’s English, Irish, French and German 2000 Guineas all featuring in the July 31 event.

The unbeaten Notable Speech triumphed at Newmarket for Charlie Appleby, beating Richard Hannon’s Rosallion, who duly gained compensation when triumphing at the Curragh on Saturday, narrowly beating stablemate Haatem who is another Sussex contender.

Metropolitan won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains for Marco Baratti and he could represent the French Classic generation, while the David Menuisier-trained Devil’s Point made all to take the Group Two German 2000 Guineas last week.

The three-year-old entry numbers a clutch of Aidan O’Brien-trained runners, including Irish 1,000 Guineas third and fourth Opera Singer and Buttons, Irish 2,000 third Unquestionable and Henry Longfellow, who disappointed as favourite behind Metropolitan at ParisLongchamp.

A total of 39 horses are in the race, with Inspiral and Facteur Cheval two of the key older performers in what is the first European all-aged Group One mile clash of the season.

Inspiral suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of fellow John and Thady Gosden-trained runner Audience on her reappearance in the Lockinge and the two could clash again at Goodwood for owners Cheveley Park Stud. The three-year-old Lead Artist, who was a winner at York, is an intriguing possible for the Clarehaven team.

Facteur Cheval was last seen when winning the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March and his trainer also has a second string to his bow in Lazzat, who is undefeated in four career starts.

Deirdre provided Japan with a Goodwood Festival win back in 2019 when landing the Nassau Stakes and there could be a Japanese runner this year with the Yasutoshi Ikee-trained Soul Rush.

The six-year-old was narrowly beaten in the Mile Championship at Kyoto racecourse back in November and recently won on his return at Group Two level there ahead of this weekend’s Grade One Yasuda Kinen.