Talk Of New York was the talk of Newmarket on the day he lined up alongside Rebel’s Romance’s brother Fortitudine for a high‑profile double on the Rowley Mile, both representing trainer Charlie Appleby. The colt, already highly regarded after a third‑place finish in the St James’s Palace Stakes behind Bow Echo and Gstaad, entered the Betway Joel Stakes as the 4‑9 favourite despite a disappointing run at Goodwood earlier in the season.
From the start, Talk Of New York settled near the stands side, a position he has often favoured in group races. As the field turned into the home straight, he surged forward under the guidance of William Buick, taking the lead decisively inside the final furlong. He then extended his advantage, eventually crossing the finish line a dominant four‑and‑three‑quarter lengths ahead of his rivals, confirming his status as a top‑class miler. Appleby, who has been enjoying a rich vein of form, praised the colt’s performance.
“After what he did in the St James’s Palace, we came here with confidence,” he said. “We knew we had to erase the Goodwood disappointment, and today he showed exactly what we expected. His preparation for this race was spot‑on, and he proved that a dip in form can be a one‑off event rather than a trend.” Looking ahead, Appleby hinted that Talk Of New York could be supplemented for one of the premier events at Qatar Racing British Champions Day.
However, he emphasized that the horse’s real target lies in the following season, when he will be asked to fill the void left by Notable Speech in the mile division. “I’m not committing to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes just yet, but it’s on the table as a supplementary option,” Appleby added. “William and I discussed the possibility of waiting to see the ground conditions in France for the Prix Daniel Wildenstein, but his confidence after a strong Joel win makes the QEII a realistic next step.” Appleby also spoke about the colt’s long‑term plans, noting that while a Breeders’ Cup appearance this year is unlikely, the team is already mapping out a campaign for next year’s edition.
“A bit of easier ground would suit him – he’s a solidly built horse who hits the ground hard,” the trainer explained. “We’re not ruling out a future Breeders’ Cup, but for now the focus is on building him up for the big targets ahead.” Appleby’s afternoon improved further when Fortitudine, the brother of Talk Of New York, was backed into 15‑8 favourite status and delivered a third consecutive victory in the Betway Godolphin Stakes. The win gave the sibling pair a perfect record of three wins from three starts in the Betway series, enhancing their reputations and opening the door to a possible Dubai campaign after a brief rest. Speaking about Fortitudine, Appleby said, “We always intended to give him a chance abroad, and his natural inclination is to gallop.
He learned his basics at Kempton, and today he showed his class by taking the lead early and then responding to challenges half a mile out with a sharp acceleration – he may have even quickened twice.” He added that Fortitudine thrives in a smaller, more personalised training environment because he is not the biggest or most robust of the group, and that his ability to maintain a strong gallop makes him a prime candidate for the City of Gold over a mile and a half in Dubai. “William keeps drawing parallels with his brother, and that could be a route we explore,” Appleby concluded. In other racing news, Pensando A Te delivered a dramatic finish in the Betway Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, edging out Light Of Dawn by a short head in the final stride for trainer Marco Botti and jockey Silvestre de Sousa. Light Of Dawn, trained by Karl Burke, entered the Group Two contest as the 5‑2 favourite after a Group Three Prestige Stakes victory at Goodwood, with the unbeaten Spirited Gesture from John and Thady Gosden’s stable considered her main rival.
Pensando A Te, who had previously placed second to Speed Of Sound on her Yarmouth debut and then won at Ascot, started at 15‑2 odds. De Sousa gave her a measured ride, settling the filly at the rear of the nine‑horse field before making a late run.
As the front‑runners Speed Of Sound and Light Of Dawn battled for the lead in the closing stages, Light Of Dawn briefly seized the advantage, only for Pensando A Te to surge forward and clinch the win by a narrow margin. Botti praised his filly, saying, “It’s always encouraging when a two‑year‑old shows improvement late in the season.
We may have been a little eager with her early on, but she has developed nicely. At Ascot she handled a small field well, and today the plan was to settle her and unleash a late run. I didn’t expect her to win, but she proved she belongs at this level and will be a strong contender next year.” The Italian‑bred youngster now looks toward a potential 1000 Guineas campaign, with Coral offering her at 20‑1 for the Classic.
Meanwhile, Light Of Dawn, racing in the colours of Wathnan Racing, held on for second place, narrowly beating Ruby Moon. Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown commented, “She ran a brilliant race despite not loving the ground.
We’ll give her a break now and consider a mile target next year, possibly the French Guineas.” Overall, the day showcased the depth of talent in the current generation of milers and juveniles, with Charlie Appleby’s stable delivering two standout victories and setting the stage for future campaigns across Europe and the Middle East. Fans can stay updated with the latest racing news, interviews, and features through Sky Sports Racing and other dedicated platforms.