The last winner of the season’s first Classic to be unraced as a juvenile was way back in 1938 but Notable Speech proved that statistics aren’t everything in an ever-changing field.
Charlie Appleby didn’t hand the Dubawi colt his debut until January and that came at Kempton, as did his two subsequent starts. Notable Speech recorded a notably fast final furlong on the most recent of those outings to leave William Buick visibly excited but the questions remained on this first run on grass and huge step up in class.
All eyes were on hot favourite City Of Troy, last season’s top European juvenile and who had been compared to Frankel by part-owner Michael Tabor. However, supporters of Aidan O’Brien’s charge knew their fate by The Dip with Ryan Moore sending out distress signals and accepting the result once it was clear the Justify colt had no response. O’Brien later reported that City Of Troy had got upset in the stalls.
While City Of Troy went backwards, Rosallion – the apple of Richard Hannon’s eye – travelled powerfully in the centre of the track and it looked as though he could well live up to his billing as the best horse to have ever been housed at the famous stables in Wiltshire.
He still might but he had no answer to the finishing burst of Notable Speech who powered home to win by a length and a half.
Craven Stakes winner Haatem, a stablemate of the runner-up, was a further length and three quarters adrift in third.
It was a first 2000 Guineas success for Buick – second in 2021 and 2022 – who said: “I’ve not known him for that long, I came back from Dubai and here we are. I’ve not very often believed in a horse as much as I have this guy. I’ve had that much belief in him that sometimes you go home at night and you think ‘have I lost the plot altogether?’ because that’s how he does things. He does things so easily, his change of gear is incredible.
“The race couldn’t have gone any better, fair play to the team, he was in great form today; he’s done nothing but improve and I’m delighted.
“He’s an out and out miler, he’s all about speed. He’s got a strong mind, got a great mindset and I think he’s a horse that’s going to keep improving.”
Buick was also asked if he was aware that City Of Troy was beaten early, and replied: “He was in trouble a long way out and I was conscious of not getting there too early with my horse but I couldn’t help it.
“He just dragged me into the race in the hottest part of the race, which is what he did at Kempton in his previous runs. And then he’s pricking his ears at the line – every time you ride him you always feel like there’s more in the tank.”
Appleby has now saddled two of the last three winners of the 2000 Guineas and said: “We’ve given him all the time, he needed the time just to be a racehorse. A few lads sat on him last year in August sort of time when you start to see these horses develop a bit more and said he’s a nice horse but he was still far too weak to be able to do anything with.
“As always, I’m in a very privileged position to be allowed to give the horses the time they need with no pressure so he had that time and came out on the all-weather and we all know what he did, he was three from three. On that last start, he put a little wow factor into what he achieved there in the acceleration and William did say after that he’s probably a French Guineas horse because he’s quick and so, therefore, we were toying whether to go there.
“After the Craven we made the decision to run in the Guineas and we brought him here for a racecourse gallop. To be honest, that was only to give ourselves a bit more confidence in running the horse to be brutally honest but what he did that morning was exciting.
“All credit to Ady McCarthy who has ridden him throughout the winter, he hasn’t been able to ride him for the last week or so as he’s gone to America with Nations Pride. Paul Eddery has got on him and sat on him last week in a piece of work and said ‘all I can say is if he gets a mile the favourite will have to be very good to beat him’.
“It’s very important to win a race of this nature with a home-bred son of Dubawi but for myself and, more importantly, the team it’s what they deserve and more importantly it’s what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin and the royal Family all deserve.”
Royal Ascot now looks likely to be the next port of call, with Appleby keen to stick to a mile with the Godolphin-owned colt.
He said: “I’d be surprised if we went beyond a mile. I would imagine it will be Royal Ascot (St James’s Palace Stakes) next, but as always we’ll let the dust settle and let everyone enjoy themselves and speak to all connections.”
‘The best Guineas we have seen in 10 years’
Richard Hannon, trainer of the second Rosallion and third Haatem said: “I am delighted. They are two extremely good horses who have made me proud, everyone in the yard proud and their owners proud. That is what we are here to do.
“They have come up against a very good horse and we will take him on again – there are many good days to be had with these two horses through the year and I am looking forward to it. I am disappointed not to win but that’s life. I’ll look back in half an hour and think it’s been a good day but it does hurt right now. As a trainer you have to do disappointment for a living.
“Rosallion travelled so well and he got to the front and looked like he was going to win. I don’t think he needed it – he hasn’t blown up as he has done loads of work. He’s still an extremely good horse and I’d love to take the winner on again around a bend at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes and we’ll also look at going to Ireland.
“I think this is probably the best Guineas we have seen in 10 years.”
Ghostwriter finished fourth for Clive Cox who said: “I think 10 furlongs beckons.
“It was really interesting because Richard (Kingscote) felt that he handled the track really well last year in the Royal Lodge, today was just a gear quicker down the hill and I think a level track will be more his favour but going a mile and a quarter is going to be the key ingredient.
“He’s in the Dante and the French Derby. We’ll discuss it with Jeff (Smith, owner) and Jeff and the horse will decide which will be the best idea. I hope he comes back well from here, I’m really very proud of him because although he’s unbeaten at two, he’s got a few steps to manoeuvre through and improve on – the competition is a big step up – and I think a mile and a quarter will really help us.
“I think we’re just starting his chapter and we’re full of hope and confidence going forwards.”
Ten Bob Tony was eighth at 40/1 but trainer Ed Walker was disappointed with the run, saying: “I would never run a horse in a race like that just for the sake of having a runner.
“We came here thinking he would be really competitive. For some reason he was just sitting in the stalls and missed the break and he’s never really run his race once in behind, he’s much happier in his own space and in front and he never got that today. I don’t think we saw him at his best.
“I think it was a vintage Guineas, I really do, I think it will prove to be a very, very good renewal.”
