Notable Speech, William Buick's Big Hope to Continue Making History at the Breeders' Cup

Godolphin's star jockey will seek his fifth victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) aboard the defending champion, who enters the race in peak form. However, the recent withdrawal of Ombudsman deprived him of another formidable mount for the World Championships at Keeneland

NEWMARKET, England (Special for Turf Diario).— William Buick has made a habit of starring at the Breeders' Cup, and he is ready to continue building on his historic legacy in the series. Although his outlook for the upcoming October 30–31 renewal at Keeneland lost some luster with the withdrawal of Ombudsman (Night of Thunder), Godolphin's premier jockey retains a formidable ace in Notable Speech, the defending champion of the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), who will bid for back-to-back victories following his 2025 triumph.

At 38, the top-flight rider remains firmly established among the world's elite jockeys and understands the nuances of American racing better than most. His partnership with Charlie Appleby and the iconic royal blue silks has produced extraordinary results in recent years, particularly in the Breeders' Cup Mile—a race where he will seek a fifth victory to extend his record.

Notable Speech stands out as his primary hope. The son of Dubawi, a winner of seven G1 events, is enjoying another stellar campaign highlighted by recent victories in the City of York Stakes (G1) over 1400 meters and the Woodbine Mile (G1) in Canada. In his Canadian venture, he once again displayed his explosive turn of foot—a weapon that could prove decisive on the turf course at Keeneland.

"He’s always an extraordinary horse and has a fantastic constitution. He already boasts an impressive record, and he's one of those horses I always look forward to getting back aboard," said Buick, underscoring his deep confidence in his partner.

He added: "He is a horse that always finds his best form at this time of year. He was very good in the City of York and in the Woodbine Mile, and we hope he can deliver once again at the Breeders' Cup."

However, his full roster of mounts will not be quite as expansive as the British jockey had initially envisioned. Trainer John Gosden confirmed that Ombudsman, the brilliant winner of the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot, will not travel to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The trainer deemed the quick turnaround between races too demanding, leaving open the possibility of a final career appearance in the Japan Cup (G1) on November 29 in Tokyo.

The withdrawal represents a major loss for Buick, who had just partnered the son of Night of Thunder to his impressive Champions Day victory.

Nonetheless, Notable Speech provides more than enough firepower to maintain high optimism. Winner of the 2000 Guineas (G1) and the Sussex Stakes (G1) in 2024, the Appleby trainee captured the Breeders' Cup Mile last year at Del Mar and will now aim to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) achieved the feat in 2012 and 2013.

Buick, who boasts double-digit victories in the World Championships, also hopes to pick up additional rides across the two-day event. The opportunity to test himself against North America's top riding colony remains one of the highlights of the trip for him.

"I really enjoy going to the United States and I know the jockey room very well—guys like Mike Smith, Johnny Velazquez, and the Ortiz brothers. It's a massive group of incredible riders that makes competing over there extremely tough," he explained.

"We go with the utmost respect knowing how fierce the competition is, but the Breeders' Cup is a magnificent event and I absolutely love it," he concluded.

With fewer chances than anticipated but riding a horse of supreme class, Buick returns to Kentucky in pursuit of further glory. Notable Speech will be his chief ally on an international stage where both have already reached the pinnacle.