Charlie Appleby has issued a positive bulletin on Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the Classic winner continues his preparation for the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday, July 31.
The impressive 2,000 Guineas scorer ran no sort of race when last seen forfeiting his unbeaten record in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, ultimately finishing seventh of eight runners in a race won by the Newmarket runner-up, Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}).
That performance was simply too bad to be true according to Appleby, who is expecting his charge to bounce back at Goodwood after he came through his latest piece of work with flying colours.
“He worked on Saturday and I was pleased with him,” the dual champion trainer said of Notable Speech. “It was on soft ground which was testing for him but he worked well. It's all systems go towards the Sussex now.
“I sat in the office the other morning with William [Buick, jockey] and we spoke in depth about him. We've been through him with a fine toothcomb and we've not found anything. Horses that campaign at that level, you often find something that needs a little bit of work because those at that level try harder, but he was as clean as a whistle.
“We've just got to put a line through it and we'll see where we are come the Sussex, but he pleased in his work and we're looking towards the Sussex. It's a track that we feel would suit our fella–he's a traveller.
“We've seen him at Kempton, we've seen him at Newmarket, but I thought Ascot's turning mile would suit him as well. But we'll probably never get to the bottom of it and now we move forward. If he'd finished third you just say 'that's as good as he is' but we've just not turned up. All the form, as we know, is rock solid.”
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