No Half Measures delivered a shock for the ages in the July Cup at Newmarket

The daughter of Cable Bay shocked everyone with a 66-1 payout, the highest ever recorded in the nearly 150-year history of the G1 July Cup

Wide on the track, No Half Measures got the better of Big Mojo to score a surprise victory

NEWMARKET, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- Horse racing is, at times, as unpredictable as it is fascinating. What unfolded on Saturday at the July Course was one of those rare combinations of shock, emotion, and unexpected glory. No Half Measures, a four-year-old filly dismissed by almost everyone, captured the prestigious July Cup (G1) over 1200 meters with £570,000 in prize money, returning odds of 66-1 – the highest payout in the near 150-year history of the storied English sprint.

Ridden by Neil Callan and trained by Richard Hughes, the daughter of Cable Bay prevailed by just a neck over Big Mojo (Mohaather), with Run To Freedom (Muhaarar) finishing third, another 1 3/4 lengths away. The favorite Notable Speech (Dubawi), winner of the 2024 2000 Guineas (G1), was never a factor, checking in fifth.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. I had some very hard days when I started training. I felt I had to prove myself all over again after retiring from riding. To win a race like this, with this filly, makes it all so special,” Hughes admitted through tears, celebrating his first G1 win since swapping his silks for a trainer’s coat.

The race was run at a solid tempo, with the sprinters clustered down the center of the course. Callan settled No Half Measures in a stalking position and, upon hitting the final 400 meters, unleashed her run. Inside the final furlong, she ranged alongside Big Mojo and edged ahead with determination and authority.

“I couldn’t believe it when I was offered the ride. I thought it was a mistext,” Callan said. “She answered every question. When I asked, she gave me everything. It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

Bred by Bumble Bloodstock and S. Nicholls, and racing in the colors of R. P. Gallagher, No Half Measures had shown little in her recent outings. Her leap forward here was as unforeseen as it was impressive.

For punters, the result was seismic. The 66-1 payout (£66 for every £1 wagered) shattered all previous records in the July Cup, a race dating back to 1876. The tricast (first three in exact order) returned nearly 28,000 times the original stake, rewarding the bravest of bettors handsomely.

As for Notable Speech, his defeat raised questions about his sprinting future. The Godolphin colt appeared uncomfortable dropping from a mile back to six furlongs and never found his usual rhythm.

“We knew it was a risky move,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “After all, he’s still a three-year-old, and perhaps this wasn’t the right time to shorten him up. We’ll go back to the mile, where he has already proven himself among the very best.”

Thus, with a filly who defied every prediction, the 2025 July Cup wrote itself into British racing’s grand annals, serving as a reminder that in this sport, there are no certainties – and once the gates open, anything can happen.