Notable Speech returned to his spectacular best form to capture his sixth Group One triumph in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes, delivering a performance that will be remembered by racing fans for weeks to come. The chestnut colt, trained by Charlie Appleby, has been a consistent top‑level competitor over the past three seasons, adding a string of high‑profile victories to his résumé. His previous major wins include the 2000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes in 2024, followed by the Woodbine Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile in 2025, and most recently the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury earlier this spring.
Despite a rare stumble when he finished sixth as the favourite in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, Notable Speech quickly rebounded when he was dropped back to seven furlongs on the historic Knavesmire course. The ground was a little softer than his ideal preference, yet the horse displayed his true class under the skilled hands of regular jockey William Buick. From the start, he travelled with authority, then accelerated with a powerful turn of foot, pulling away two and three‑quarter lengths from the nearest challenger to win as the 9‑4 favourite.
After the race, Appleby praised the colt, saying, "You have to admire him. You get good horses that can win at two and three, but when they keep winning at four and five you really have to tip your hat to them. We’re fortunate that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the Godolphin team allow us to keep horses like this in training, because it would be far easier to retire a horse of his calibre. The likes of Modern Games and Space Blues could have gone to stud much earlier.
Rebel's Romance was a gelding, so the situation was different, but if I owned a mare I would be the first to send her to a stallion that wins Group Ones at three, four and five. This new seven‑furlong Group One fills a gap in the UK programme and, with a horse like Notable Speech taking the prize, it should gain the recognition it deserves." The victory also sets the stage for future ambitions beyond the UK.
Appleby's stable hand at Moulton Paddocks indicated that the next target could be a second Breeders' Cup win, noting, "I spoke with a few people from the Breeders' Cup earlier today. The good thing about today is that he has shown his versatility on ground that was a little softer than ideal. When we head to Keeneland we might encounter more autumnal ground, so this performance gives us confidence that we can go straight to the Breeders' Cup now." In other racing news, the Deauville meeting saw Aventure end Diamond Necklace's unbeaten run by taking the Sumbe Prix Jean et Louis Romanet, while Defiantly confirmed his Melbourne Cup aspirations after a solid win at Deauville. At York, Rossa Ryan celebrated a "great" Ebor victory aboard Daiquiri Bay, and the same horse later defended his title in a thrilling finish on the Knavesmire.
Kevin Blake offered his Ebor Festival tips for day four on Sky Sports Racing, and the channel highlighted live coverage of Brighton, Worcester and Deauville races on Sunday. Turning to the St Leger conversation, William Haggas expressed cautious optimism about running Infraad in the classic after the colt’s recent success in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap at York. Infraad, a son of Ghaiyyath, has shown steady improvement across five starts, most notably a mile‑and‑a‑half victory at Glorious Goodwood.
He was stepped up to the demanding mile‑and‑three‑quarters distance for the £180,000 St Leger, a race Haggas has won three times before. Sent off as a joint‑favorite at 100‑30 alongside Joseph O’Brien’s Limestone, Infraad held his own in the final furlong and ultimately prevailed by two lengths over Galilean Quality, with Limestone finishing fifth. Haggas reflected on the colt’s development, saying, "He’s improving but he’s still quite raw.
He was a bit juvenile before the race and a bit edgy, so he still has a lot to learn. Tom said he’s relentless when he gets going and he won comfortably." However, bookmakers have already cut the St Leger odds for Infraad from 16‑1 to 8‑1, prompting Haggas to caution that the classic might be too soon for a horse he views as a long‑term project. He recalled a previous experience with Guaranteel, a Highclere colt that won the St Leger quickly but proved to be a premature step. "I suspect the Leger will come too soon in this horse’s career as well, and it’s more likely he’ll aim for the Noel Murless at Ascot.
I don’t like putting a gun to their heads too early, especially a big raw horse who I hope will be a nice horse for a few years. Let’s not squeeze the lemon dry too early. He’s only just getting the hang of the distance, so hopefully he’ll develop into a true Cup horse." The broader racing community continues to celebrate the depth of talent on display across the season. Notable Speech’s win not only adds another Group One to his record but also reinforces the importance of maintaining elite horses in training for multiple seasons, a philosophy championed by Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed.
As the calendar moves forward, fans can look forward to more high‑stakes contests, potential Breeders' Cup entries, and the ongoing debate over when to transition top performers to stud duties. For now, Notable Speech stands as a shining example of durability, class, and the thrill that comes when a horse finds the perfect race to showcase his abilities.