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Notable Speech bounces back to form in Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

Updated / Wednesday, 31 Jul 2024 19:43
Notable Speech quickens clear of his rivals in the feature race at Goodwood
Notable Speech quickens clear of his rivals in the feature race at Goodwood

Notable Speech may have been denied a "duel on the Downs" decider with old rival Rosallion but nevertheless bounced back to his brilliant best in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Having run a long way below his 2000 Guineas form at Royal Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes, the Charlie Appleby-trained colt had questions to answer.

Even without Rosallion in the field Notable Speech was still not favourite, with that honour going to Henry Longfellow. But having attempted to make all, Aidan O’Brien’s Ascot runner-up looked a sitting duck at the cutaway.

William Buick was sat with a double handful on Notable Speech and just like he had shown at Newmarket, the Dubawi colt quickened up in an instant and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

In doing so the 3-1 chance emulated Frankel, who was the last Guineas winner to win the Sussex Stakes in the same season.

The William Haggas-trained Maljoom stayed on to finish second, a length and a half away, with last year’s second Facteur Cheval close-up in third for Jerome Reynier.

Appleby said: "First and foremost, I feel for Richard (Hannon) and all the team there with Rosallion, one thing we wanted was the 'duel on the Downs'. To have two Classic winners coming here would have been fantastic.

"There was still plenty of strength in depth there with the three-year-old in Henry Longfellow and the older horses there.

"It was a race that still had to be won and you always hope that the Classic winner is going to come ahead and do that. He’s done that today and in spades, I’m delighted."

He continued: "Disappointment always kicks in when you have an unbeaten horse and a Guineas winner beaten.

"But as I’ve always been taught, and I’m lucky to have the team and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed behind me, never look back, always look forward. Take the positives out of the situation and the positive was there was nothing there.

"Had the horse been lame or something out of the ordinary been there, you’d be disappointed with the result but also disappointed you’ve got a bit of an uphill challenge in front of you. Thankfully, there wasn’t anything untoward and we just kept pressing forward as we are taught to do.

"After Ascot, our main aim was to get back on track here. Going forward, will he stretch any further? I don’t think so. There’s no reason to go beyond a mile, people might mention the Breeders’ Cup Mile."

A delighted Buick said: "He was just firing on all cylinders coming in here today. He was a brilliant Guineas winner with a very rare turn of foot, one you very rarely see, and we saw that again today.

"I’m delighted. Full credit to the team. They’ve done such a fantastic job to get him back after a disappointing run in the St James’s Palace Stakes, where we knew it was too bad to be true.

"He’s such a brilliant horse. He’s a horse that really excites you and it’s a real privilege to ride him."

Raqiya (7-1) got the verdict over Jabaara in the stewards' room following a dramatic running of the Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes.

Breege and Kathmandu had disputed the lead for the majority of the Group Three contest, with Roger Varian’s favourite Jabaara racing wide.

The market leader showed a real turn of foot when asked by James Doyle, bursting to the front. But in doing so she did go to her right and towards the rail, meaning Jim Crowley had to check on the Owen Burrows-trained Raqiya.

Raqiya finished strongly, but was a head down on Jabaara at the line. The stewards subsequently interviewed both riders and took the view that the result had been impacted.

Burrows said: "Roger is one of my best mates and it is never nice to win one like that.

"Jim felt if we had had a clear run, we would have won and watching it a few times on the big screen, we probably felt we would have been an unlucky loser. But that is the way it goes here sometimes.

"It was there for all to see. It would have been a bit gutting not to get it.

"The most positive thing, even if we didn’t get it, is that we learned seven furlongs on fast ground is her bag. That was a big positive to take out of it."

Big Mojo (25-1) showed a smart turn of pace to come out on top in the Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes.

His stablemate Mr Lightside carried the Group Three field through the early stages as they raced down the centre of the course, with Arran in isolation alongside the near-side rail.

The Mick Appleby-trained Big Mojo – representing last year's winning connections of Big Evs – raced in cover in midfield before being asked to challenge as they approached the final furlong.

Big Mojo put on the jets to pull clear of Mr Lightside and win by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Silvestre de Sousa, with the fast-finishing favourite Aesterius getting up to claim second on the line by a head.

Appleby said: "I do hold him in the same regard as Big Evs, but I couldn’t split him and Mr Lightside. They’re two very, very good two-year-olds. It’s great for the owner to have another good horse and it’s great for us, too.

"I did say he could be as good as Big Evs, he’s a good horse, a very good horse.

"Him and Mr Lightside, I couldn’t split them as I think they’re both very good. I worked them together the other day and I couldn’t pick between them. He’s run a blinder as well. They’re both very good two-year-olds.

"They wouldn’t be far behind Big Evs either as two-year-olds. They could both go to America for the Breeders’ Cup, but Big Mojo will go to the Gimcrack first.

"The owner wants his wife to do the speech as the winning owner at the Gimcrack dinner. To be fair this was our main target with him."

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