Notable Speech Shows Pure Class and Precision in the Mile for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby

The Dubawi colt unleashed a dazzling turn of foot in the stretch to secure another Grade I victory

Notable Speech was an absolute whirlwind through the stretch / BREEDERS' CUP

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario at Del Mar, California)

DEL MAR, California—British precision once again took center stage at the Breeders’ Cup, as Notable Speech, carrying the royal blue silks of Godolphin, found a narrow seam along the rail in deep stretch and produced a devastating turn of foot to capture the GI FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, the most prestigious mile in the world.

The son of Dubawi and Swift Rose (Invincible Spirit) responded perfectly to the patience and timing of William Buick, who waited for the gap to open before launching his winning surge inside, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths over Formidable Man (City of Light). South Africa’s One Stripe (One World) and Britain’s Qirat (Showcasing) had set the early fractions of :22.59 and :46.76.

Trained by the exceptional Charlie Appleby, the chestnut 4-year-old covered the mile over firm turf in 1:33.66, earning his fourth Grade I victory and pushing his bankroll to $3,190,342 after pocketing $1,040,000 of the $1.5 million purse. His record now stands at 14-7-1-1.

For Appleby and Buick, it marked their fourth joint win in the Mile—a partnership that continues to shape Breeders’ Cup history. The trainer now boasts 12 victories at the World Championships, while Buick reached double digits with 10.

“He’s a horse we’ve always held in the highest regard,” Appleby said. “He had an ideal trip, traveled beautifully, and when the rail opened, Will did exactly what he needed to do. He’s built for this course. His prior experience at Woodbine was crucial, and today everything went to plan. If you could script the perfect Mile performance at Del Mar, this would be it.”

Buick praised his mount’s composure and acceleration: “He broke better than he did at Woodbine, and turning for home I knew no one had more horse than I did. I rode him with confidence, and the gap came just in time. His turn of foot is electrifying, and I’m thrilled he was able to show how special he is. The Jacques le Marois was a tough loss, but this was his redemption.”

Chile’s Gran Oriente (Classic Empire) also took part, making up ground late—despite having to steady in traffic—to finish 11th, beaten just 5 1/4 lengths, a performance suggesting there could be better days ahead on this circuit.

With his victory, Notable Speech reaffirmed his standing as one of the world’s elite milers and once again showcased the enduring excellence of Godolphin, Dubawi, and Appleby—a trio that has come to define success on racing’s grandest stages.