Euros, Led by Notable Speech, Loom Tough in BC Mile

To say Godolphin has dominated the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) in recent years would be a gross understatement. The international powerhouse, teamed up with trainer Charlie Appleby and rider William Buick, has landed the last three runnings of the championship mile event with Space Blues , Modern Games , and Master of The Seas .

This year, the dream team is back for the royal blue in the form of budding star miler Notable Speech . A late-developing colt, Notable Speech broke his maiden in January and cruised through four straight victories for Appleby, capped by a late-running classic triumph in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse, where he soundly defeated European superhorse City of Troy . Following an uncharacteristic lackluster effort in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, the son of Dubawi  rebounded with a stirring score over older rivals in the prestigious Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood.

It was Notable Speech's Sussex performance that sealed the colt's Breeders' Cup Mile fate. By winning the Sussex, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series contest, he earned an all-expenses-paid trip overseas into the Del Mar starting gate Nov. 2. In interviews after the race, Appleby praised the colt's maturity over the last half of the year and his lightning turn of foot.

"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," Appleby told RacingTV in a pre-Breeders' Cup interview Oct. 23.

Notable Speech was fifth behind fellow Godolphin colorbearer Tribalist  in his most recent outing, the Sept. 8 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1). Appleby was quick to blame the soft ground for the colt's defeat, an issue unlikely to arise in the Southern California-hosted Breeders' Cup.

"What we did learn and what we were very happy with was what we saw at Longchamp," said Appleby. "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."

Among the strong brigade of Europeans joining Notable Speech at Del Mar are the exceptional filly pair of Porta Fortuna  and Ramatuelle . Interestingly enough, both fillies have ties to the United States. Porta Fortuna, arguably one of the best female milers overseas following three consecutive victories at the group 1 level, races for American connections Parkland Thoroughbreds, Barry Fowler, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Medallion Racing, an ownership group founded by Taylor Made Farm. Runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), the daughter of Caravaggio  has blossomed as a 3-year-old for trainer Donnacha O'Brien. Although she has yet to defeat males, her speed ratings in Europe stack right up against the best she'll face in the Mile.

"It's obviously a super competitive race and she'll have to be at her best to win but she's doing very well and she deserves to take a shot. I know Donnacha (O'Brien) is happy with (Porta Fortuna)," said Phil Shelton, the managing partner for Medallion Racing.  

"She's got an explosive kick for three-sixteenths of a mile and a high cruising speed which I think are the two most important components for a miler. I think for her like all the Euros, getting into a good position into the first turn is very important."

Ramatuelle, third behind Porta Fortuna in the Coronation Stakes (G1), enters the Mile off a spectacular victory over males in France's Prix de la Foret (G1). The sophomore daughter of Ashford Stud stallion and 2018 Triple Crown hero Justify   quickened impressively in the Foret, finishing three lengths clear over 2022 Breeders' Cup Mile third Kinross. However, the ground was rated as "very soft" that day and none of the Christopher Head trainee's four wins have ever come over a firm turf course.

The last U.S.-based runner to wear the Mile crown was the Chad Brown-trained Uni  in 2019. Brown returns to this year's edition with the progressive colt Carl Spackler . A homebred for Bob Edwards' e5 Racing Thoroughbreds, the son of Lope de Vega  has been flawless in his last three starts, including back-to-back grade 1 victories in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course and Keeneland's Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T). In both of those races, he outlasted the fast-finishing More Than Looks . A customary deep closer from the barn of Cherie DeVaux, the More Than Ready 4-year-old appears primed to notch his first top-level triumph at a fair price in the Mile.

Carl Spackler is one of two entries for Brown, who will also saddle grade 1-winning turf mare Chili Flag . Owned in partnership by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Michael Kisber, Chili Flag notched three straight late-running scores this year against her own sex, capped by a top-level win in the Just a Game Stakes (G1T) during Belmont Stakes (G1) weekend. The 5-year-old daughter of Cityscape  has been working right alongside Carl Spackler in the mornings training up to the Mile at Keeneland. In their final tuneup, the pair breezed a half-mile in unison over the Keeneland turf course in :50 2/5 Oct. 26.

"(Chili Flag) is going to be a longshot against the boys but she does have a good turn of foot when she has a good pace to run at," Brown told FanDuel TV during their Oct. 28 coverage. "If the pace sets up quick she’s in for a chance for an upset."

Johannes , the hometown hero in the Mile field, will be the horse the Europeans and East Coast shippers will need to worry about the most come Championship Saturday. The undisputed king of the So Cal turf is undefeated in four starts this year, with one of his highest speed figures coming over the Del Mar turf course in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T). Bred and raced by Cuyathy, the 4-year-old son of Nyquist   shook clear of traffic turning for home, and polished off his rivals in an eye-catching display last time out in his final Breeders' Cup prep in the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T) Sept. 28. His tactical speed and devastating late kick, two key traits of many a Breeders' Cup Mile winner, could spell the formula for success Nov. 2.