Son of Dubawi Gains Automatic Berth into FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
CHICHESTER, England ─ Godolphin’s Notable Speech (GB) bounced back to his brilliant best Wednesday, powering home to win the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood Racecourse. The victory gave him an automatic start in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Notable Speech disappointed at Royal Ascot last time out when finishing seventh in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1), his only defeat in six career starts. However, under a confident William Buick ride Wednesday, he returned to top form.
Ryan Moore made the running on 11-10 market leader Henry Longfellow (IRE) turning for home, with Buick waiting on the inside before producing Notable Speech after the cutaway. The son of Dubawi (IRE) displayed an explosive turn of foot and cruised to the lead, pulling 1 1/2 lengths clear to hold off the fast-finishing William Haggas-trained Maljoom (IRE) in second. French raider Facteur Cheval (IRE), who finished second to Paddington (GB) in last year’s Sussex Stakes, rallied in the closing stages to finish third.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Henry Longfellow was unable to match Notable Speech’s surge and eased towards the finish, with the outsider of the field, the Ralph Beckett-trained Sonny Liston (IRE), finishing last.
Notable Speech is the first QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) winner to follow up in the same year’s Sussex Stakes since the legendary Frankel (GB) 13 years ago, and Godolphin’s first winner in the race since Ramonti (FR) in 2007.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said after the race: “Coming into today, his preparation was faultless. I think he is just a horse who turned up with his A-game. He got a great trip round. Once the cutaway arrived, William had plenty of horse underneath him to go and make use of it. What I love about him is that he hasn’t got great stride length, but he turns those legs over quick, and that’s why you see that acceleration.”
Appleby indicated that a trip to America with Notable Speech could come into consideration later in the season. He said: “We haven’t really made a plan yet, we just wanted to make sure we nailed today. Of course we’d love to go to the Breeders’ Cup. He’s learning week on week and maturing, so I wouldn’t rule it out of the equation.”
Notable Speech completed the 1 mile in a time of 1:35:97 on a course listed as good to firm.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Qatar Sussex Stakes, Notable Speech, to start in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
