Can Notable Speech Repeat Godolphin Magic at Woodbine?

Woodbine's top turf races have proved quite the tempting target for international raiders, including those looking ahead to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, and the Sept. 13 renewal of the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) certainly promises more of the same.

The nine-horse field includes runners from as far afield as England and South Africa, along with a pair of likely candidates handled by local ace trainer Mark Casse. All are chasing not only the purse money but also a automatic, fees-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1 through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is well versed in the Woodbine Mile-to-Breeders' Cup route and looks to turn the trick for a third time when he saddles Notable Speech . At his best, the 4-year-old Dubawi  colt has been among the best, winning the 2024 Two Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket and the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood as highlights of his 3-year-old season.

After a fifth-place finish in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) in Paris, Notable Speech wrapped up 2024 finishing third, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The 4-year-old season has been a puzzle as Notable Speech turned in decent runs in three straight group 1 events while finishing fourth, fourth, and fifth. He then turned things around in his last start, finishing second in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) at Deauville, just a head back.

"As is typical of his sire, from a physical aspect, he looks much stronger this year," Appleby said of Notable Speech, per Woodbine's publicity staff. "I think this horse always puts his best foot forward but needs things to fall right for him on the day."

Appleby said the Deauville effort showed the colt retains his enthusiasm but noted, "He prefers there to be decent pace as we saw when he won the Guineas and the Sussex Stakes."

Appleby saddled Modern Games  to victory in the 2022 Woodbine Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile and Master of The Seas  turned the same double for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's crew in 2023.

The South African invader is One Stripe , a One World  colt out of a Silvano  mare. One Stripe exited South Africa, thanks to the newly relaxed export protocols, this spring with a record of six wins from nine starts.

One Stripe will be making his first start in North America for trainer Graham Motion, who has had significant success with an earlier shipment of South African horses who have been holding their own in North America. That string includes Gimme a Nother , who won the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 6 at Del Mar, and Beach Bomb , who has hit the board in six of nine starts in the United States, all stakes.

The local brigade is headed by Win for the Money , last year's Woodbine Mile winner. The 6-year-old Mohaymen  gelding was a longshot that day a year ago and has not won in five intervening starts, albeit against top company. He finished 10th in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile and comes off a pair of third-place finishes at Saratoga Race Course, both in graded events.

"I don't know if he has given his very best," Casse said of Win for the Money. "But he is coming in now in his third (race) of the cycle. A lot of the big handicappers will tell you the third one off the layoff is their best. That's what we are looking for."

Casse also brings 2024 King's Plate Stakes runner-up My Boy Prince  back north from Saratoga. He made the same trip in June to finish second to Patches O'Houlihan in the Highlander Stakes (G2T) and the trainer said he thinks things are falling right for him in the return engagement.

"He's been running against the best," Casse said. "I think he is really going to like the inner turf. He's very good on sharp turns. If he puts in a good effort, he is going to be tough. Everybody is going to need a good trip."

The 4-year-old Cairo Prince   gelding was sixth in the 2024 Mile.

Stanley House  has done most of his work on the Woodbine all-weather course but has a win and a second from two starts on the local grass. Gas Me Up  and Wyoming Bill  finished 1-2 in the local King Edward Stakes (G2T) in their last start and both seem to be improving quickly.

In Stakes Action On The Main Track

• WinStar Farm's Caitlinhergrtness  aims to rebound from a lackluster fifth-place finish in the Aug. 16 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) when she returns to Woodbine's primary Tapeta surface to face 11 rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Matron Stakes (G3), the day's seventh race. The Kevin Attard trainee won the 2024 King's Plate over Woodbine's Tapeta.
• Chiefswood Stables' synthetic specialist Simcoe , a 5 3/4-length victory in last month's Bold Venture Stakes (G3), battles Michael Lay's turf-to-Tapeta runner Cruden Bay  in the Vigil Stakes (G3). Six other sprinters are part of the seven-furlong contest, which is carded as the 10th on the stakes-laden program.