York: Notable Speech shines in City Of York Stakes for Charlie Appleby
Charlie Appleby's Notable Speech returned to top form when rocketing to victory in the City Of York Stakes under William Buick, setting up a potential return to America for the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Saturday 22 August 2026 16:01, UK
Notable Speech bounced back to his brilliant best to claim his sixth Group One victory in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.
Charlie Appleby's chestnut has been a top-class performer for the last three seasons, with his big-race haul including the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes in 2024, the Woodbine Mile and Breeders' Cup Mile in 2025 and the Lockinge at Newbury this spring.
He suffered a rare blip when only sixth as favourite the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June, but dropped back to seven furlongs on the Knavesmire - albeit on easier ground than ideal - and showed his true colours in the hands of regular partner William Buick, travelling powerfully before quickening two and three-quarter lengths clear of the chasing pack as the 9-4 favourite.
Appleby said: "You've got to admire him. You get good horses who can do it at two and three, but when they do it at four and five you've got to doff your cap to them.
"We're allowed to give these horses the opportunity to do it and that is full credit to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin for letting us keep these horses in training, as it would be very easy to retire a horse like him.
"The likes of Modern Games and Space Blues, they could have gone to stud much earlier. It was different with Rebel's Romance as a gelding, but if I had a mare I'd be the first person to send one to a horse winning Group Ones at three, four and five.
"This new seven-furlong Group One is what we needed in the UK and it is being well supported. A horse like him winning it will hopefully give the race plenty of kudos."
The Moulton Paddocks handler will now target a second Breeders' Cup success with his charge, adding: "I spoke to a couple of guys from the Breeders' Cup earlier today. What is good about today is he has showed his versatility on ground slightly softer than ideal.
"Going to Keeneland you can have a question mark about whether the ground will be a bit more autumnal, so hopefully that has given us the confidence that we can head straight to the Breeders' Cup now."
Infraad to swerve Leger despite impressive Melrose win
William Haggas was lukewarm on a tilt at the Betfred St Leger with Infraad after he continued his progression with victory in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap at York.
The Ghaiyyath colt had made steady improvement during his five-race career so far, most recently scoring a mile and a half at Glorious Goodwood.
He stepped up to a mile and three-quarters for a prestigious £180,000 contest Haggas has won three times before and was a 100-30 joint-favourite under Tom Marquand, alongside Joseph O'Brien's Limestone.
The two market leaders were both in contention racing inside the final furlong, but it was Infraad who saw out the extended distance best, coming home two lengths clear of the staying-on Galilean Quality, with Limestone fading into fifth.
"He's improving but he's quite raw. He was a bit juvenile before the race and a bit edgy, so he's still got a bit to learn," Haggas said of the winner.
"Tom did say he's pretty relentless when he gets going and he won comfortably."
Bookmakers cut the winner to 8-1 from 16-1 for the St Leger at Doncaster next month, but Haggas feels the season's final Classic may be too much too soon for a horse he views as more of a long-term project.
"We won this race a few years ago with a Highclere horse called Guaranteel. He won by three and a half lengths off top-weight and we ran him in the Leger, but it came too quick for him," the trainer continued.
"I suspect, without speaking to connections, that the Leger will come too soon in this horse's career too, and it's more likely he'll go for the Noel Murless at Ascot.
"I don't like putting a gun to their heads too early, especially a big raw horse who I hope will be a nice horse for a few years, so let's not squeeze the lemon dry too early.
"I think he's going to develop, he's only just getting the hang of it and that's his first time at this distance, so hopefully he'll develop into a Cup horse."
