Notable Speech Surges to Breeders' Cup Mile Win
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Notable Speech wins the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar
Charlie Appleby was still blinking in disbelief at the result of the race run more than an hour earlier when it came time to saddle favored Notable Speech for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), as the autumn shadows lengthened Nov. 1 on day two of the spectacle at Del Mar.
As far as Appleby was concerned, his old battler Rebel's Romance was home and dry, on his way to an unprecedented third straight victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). The Godolphin gelding had dispatched the Coolmore filly Minnie Hauk with an efficient flourish deep in the stretch, and only his stablemate, El Cordobes , appeared to be closing with much of a run.
Then came the former hurdler, Ethical Diamond , from out of the clouds to sweep past and win going away, leaving Appleby agape and settling for second and third.
"Didn't see him at all," Appleby said. "Hard to believe. Still, I'm proud of the way Rebel's Romance ran once again."
Courage, and shuffle the cards.
Appleby brings nothing but aces to the Breeders' Cup Mile, and Notable Speech lives near the top of the deck. For two solid seasons, the chestnut son of Dubawi has knocked heads with many of Europe's best milers while bagging such prestigious prizes as the 2024 English Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Sussex Stakes (G1), in addition to this year's Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T).
Still, the 2025 Breeders' Cup Mile stands as his finest hour, especially in light of his near miss in the 2024 version, also at Del Mar, in which he was beaten in the final strides by More Than Looks . The opposition included the salty domestic trio of Rhetorical , Johannes , and Formidable Man , plus an array of invaders that included dangerous milers from Ireland, Japan, France, South Africa, and Chile.
The Mile was mercifully spared the onslaught of the last-minute veterinary scratches that plagued other races on the program. This allowed all 13 entrants a chance at the winner's prize of $1,040,000, with a guarantee of minor awards all the way down to 10th place.
As the field settled in for starter Jay Slender, the focus rightly landed on Qirat , the Juddmonte longshot who shocked everyone—including his gang in the Ralph Beckett stable—when he lasted just long enough to win this year's Sussex Stakes in July at 150-1.
Qirat was supposed to be a pacemaker that day for his vaunted Juddmonte mate, Field of Gold , who failed to fire. In the Mile, Qirat's job was to set the table for Juddmonte's Jonquil , winner of the Celebration Mile Stakes (G2) at Goodwood Racecourse and classic-placed in France.
Instead, it was the South African import One Stripe who set off on a quick pace from his inside stall under local champ Juan Hernandez. Qirat, breaking from the far outside, settled into second to track opening fractions of :22.59 for the quarter and :46.76 for the half.
Rhetorical, hero of the Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, was forwardly placed along with Coolmore's The Lion In Winter , while Formidable Man enjoyed clear sailing behind them as the far turn approached.
Meanwhile, William Buick was taking full advantage of his No. 2 post position to keep Notable Speech tucked snugly on the rail.
"That's a luxury you don't always get," said Buick, who had suffered the Rebel's Romance defeat along with Appleby. "I could have been closer if I wanted to, but the pace was on. Charlie gave me the confidence to ride the rail."
And the ride was smooth. After holding his position around the final turn, behind a 6-furlong split of 1:10.84, Buick waited until the last possible moment to ask his colt for a final burst. Farther out, Formidable Man, a daunting 6-for-6 over the Del Mar grass, was starting to get the best of Rhetorical and The Lion In Winter. They all came together at the furlong mark in 1:22.44, at which point Notable Speech left them behind to win by 1 1/2 lengths, drawing away. The final time of 1:33.66 was capped by a final furlong in :11.22.
William Buick on Notable Speech takes a peek to his outside during the stretch run of the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar
The winner paid $7.20 to win. Runner-up Formidable Man (18-1) held The Lion In Winter (4.60-1) safe by a head for second, with Rhetorical completing the superfecta.
By now, a victory with a Godolphin runner in the Mile by the Appleby-Buick combination seems a foregone conclusion. They won at Del Mar in the 2021 with Space Blues , returned to win at Keeneland with Modern Games in 2022, then won at Santa Anita in 2023 with Master of The Seas .
"We like to bring a horse that fits the conditions," Appleby said. "I'm always keen to get them on these turning tracks before you come to a championship meeting. It's invaluable to get around there as best you can.
"In the case of Notable Speech, he was able to run on the inside track at Woodbine," the trainer added, "so I came here with a lot more confidence on the back of that run."
Notable Speech is a Godolphin British homebred out of the Invincible Spirit mare Swift Rose. He has now won seven of 14 starts and better than $3.1 million. The plan, according to Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin UK, is to keep Notable Speech in training next year at age 5, which means he could be defending his title in the 2026 Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland.
"Just don't let it rain," Appleby said.
Notable Speech became the ninth Breeders' Cup winner by Darley's Dalham Hall Stud flagship stallion Dubawi, putting the stallion in a tie with Into Mischief for winningest Breeders' Cup sire. In addition to Notable Speech, Dubawi has been represented this year by two other North American grade 1 winners Rebel's Romance and Silawi .
Notable Speech and William Buick return to the grandstand after winning the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar