Notable Speech on course for States after sprinting to Sussex success | Glorious Goodwood

Notable Speech’s racing form may resemble a line of computer code, but the sequence “111101” signals a promising turnaround in his three-year-old career. After a disappointing outing resulted in the loss of his unbeaten status at the St James’s Palace Stakes, Charlie Appleby’s colt bounced back to victory in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

At Ascot, Notable Speech could only manage a last-place finish, a performance that left his team puzzled, as he finished nearly six lengths behind Henry Longfellow, who claimed second. It was no surprise that after Rosallion was withdrawn from this race earlier in the week, the betting public turned their focus to Henry Longfellow, backing him from 6-4 to 11-10, while Notable Speech’s odds drifted from 13-8 to 3-1.

As the race entered its final furlong, bettors who remained loyal to Notable Speech likely experienced heightened anxiety when it appeared five horses were nearing the finish line. Travelling like a winner, Notable Speech indeed faced pressure as the front-runner Henry Longfellow struggled. Positioned against the far rail, he was caught in the challenging Goodwood “pocket.”

However, since the introduction of the “cutaway” in 2022, the number of traffic issues on the Goodwood straight has diminished. William Buick seized the moment, sending Notable Speech down the inside when the opportunity arose, allowing his colt’s remarkable speed to take charge in a matter of strides.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has seen more notable achievements in North America this year than in Britain, with this victory marking his second domestic Group One win of 2024, following the colt’s earlier success in the 2,000 Guineas in May.

This win boosted him into the top three in the trainers’ championship and underscored the colt’s undeniable potential for a strong performance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar this November. His explosive acceleration could be a significant asset on the shorter home stretch.

“He simply didn’t show up [at Ascot], it’s that straightforward,” Appleby stated. “The question will always linger, and tragically, I may never have an answer.”

“Leading up to today, everything went perfectly, and we even managed to trim a couple of kilos from him. Was that beneficial or detrimental? I don’t really believe so. I think he just came back with his A-game.”

The Group Three Oak Tree Stakes concluded uniquely, with Raqiya finishing second behind the favorite, Jabaara, but later being declared the winner in the stewards’ room after an inquiry concluded that Owen Burrows’s filly would have won without being blocked by Jabaara in the final stages.

Initially appearing set to win easily, Jabaara and James Doyle surged ahead just before the final furlong, but their lead began to narrow as Jabaara wandered toward Raqiya on the far rail. Jockey Jim Crowley had to maneuver around Jabaara, ultimately finishing just a head behind. The officials’ decision to reverse the placings was unexpected.

Both jockeys, quite understandably, had differing perspectives on the incident. “I had to stop for about three strides,” Crowley explained. “There’s no doubt that I had to slow down. Easily four strides lost; it cost me my momentum. Given a clear run and without losing steam, she would have won easily.”

In contrast, Doyle contended that Crowley “only had to ease off a bit but didn’t need to stop,” adding, “Jabaara put in a strong performance, but she shut down the moment she hit the front. Despite feeling Raqiya coming up, she found her pace again at the line.”

Sparkling Plenty Looks Promising

In recent years, French-trained horses have had a tough time in British racing, but Goliath’s impressive win in the King George at Ascot might signal a revival of French fortunes. Patrice Cottier’s Sparkling Plenty (3.35) seems to be a value bet at approximately 11-2 for the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday.

The market favors Opera Singer, last year’s champion juvenile filly, and Emily Upjohn, victor of the 2023 Coronation Cup, but both are still seeking their first wins of the year and have minimal advantage on ratings over their main competitors.

In contrast, Sparkling Plenty enters as a Classic winner, having edged out a victory in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly in June. In a closely contested race, she showcased an impressive burst of speed to rally from near the back to the front, which could be a decisive factor over this sharp 10-furlong distance.

Goodwood 1.50 Tom Eaves faces a significant challenge aboard Sisyphean from the challenging stall 14, but this might be manageable, as Kevin Ryan’s colt showed tremendous ability by winning easily from a 10lb lower mark at York last time out.

Goodwood 2.25 Qatari trainer Hamad al Jahani has yet to find success with his ten UK turf runners since opening a satellite operation in Newmarket this season. However, The Strikin Viking, a high-profile acquisition from Kevin Ryan’s stable, might secure his first win here. This race appears weaker than the Railway Stakes at the Curragh in June, where The Strikin Viking finished just half a length behind Henri Matisse, one of Aidan O’Brien’s leading juvenile contenders.

Goodwood 3.00 Jan Brueghel remains undefeated after two starts, and the 3lb penalty for his narrow victory in a Group Three at the Curragh may not hinder his progress, especially with the additional two furlongs expected to suit him perfectly.