Notable Speech looms large in Woodbine Mile

After a one-year hiatus, Godolphin can return to the winner's circle following the C$1 million Woodbine Mile (G1) on Saturday, when it will be represented by its classic-winning colt Notable Speech.

The Godolphin-owned Modern Games and Master of the Seas used the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Woodbine Mile, respectively, as springboards to success in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). The winner of the Woodbine feature will receive an automatic bid into the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup equivalent at Del Mar.

Unlike his predecessors, Notable Speech remains in search of his first win of the season. But after three consecutive unplaced efforts in Group 1 company to start his four-year-old campaign, Notable Speech was beaten only a head into second by Diego Velazquez in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville when last seen.

At three, Notable Speech won the 2000 Guineas (G1) and Sussex (G1) before completing his season with a third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

"We were delighted with his run, and it was good to see he still retains his enthusiasm for racing," trainer Charlie Appleby said of the Jacques le Marois. "In his races, he prefers there to be decent pace as we saw when he won the Guineas and the Sussex Stakes."

There is further international representation in the Woodbine Mile, courtesy of One Stripe. A multiple Group 1 winner in South Africa, One Stripe debuts for new trainer Graham Motion, but has not run since mid-March.

Win for the Money is winless in five starts since taking the 2024 Woodbine Mile, though comes in off two credible third-place efforts in the Kelso (G3) and Fourstardave (G1). Trainer Mark Casse also saddles Canadian champion My Boy Prince, who placed in the Jaipur (G1) and Highlander (G2) before weakening to fourth in the Fourstardave.

The field of nine also includes the up-and-coming Gas Me Up, a rallying winner of the course-and-distance King Edward (G2) on Aug. 16.

Berths for the two Breeders' Cup juvenile turf races will also be awarded to the winners of the C$500,000 Summer (G1) and the C$500,000 Natalma (G1) for fillies, both over one mile.

Godolphin will be represented in the summer by Wild Desert, third to stablemate Saba Desert in the Superlative (G2) at Newmarket in July. Among his challengers is Two Out Hero, who defeated four other Summer entrants in the Soaring Free S. at Woodbine last month.

The Natalma is led by the Godolphin homebred Dance To The Music, a debut winner at Newmarket back in mid-May. The domestic contingent features Catch a Glimpse S. winner Corsia Veloce and impressive maiden winners Hot Mash and Deep Learning.