In recent years Woodbine has provided a well-worn path to the Breeders' Cup for Godolphin runners based overseas, and the boys in blue hope to add a few more footprints this year in a trio of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races Sept. 13 at the track.
Two Godolphin runners will make their first starts in North America Saturday at Woodbine while another will start on the continent for the first time since a third-place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). All three are trained by Charlie Appleby and will be ridden by William Buick.
That latter runner is Notable Speech, an English classic winner who has not won in four starts this season—all group 1—but enters off his best effort of the year: a close runner-up finish in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) at Deauville. The now 4-year-old son of Dubawi made his North American debut in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, finishing third as the 2-1 favorite when outkicked late by winner More Than Looks .
In both 2022 and 2023, Godolphin runners captured the Woodbine Mile and followed with victories in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Master of The Seas swept the two races in 2023 after Modern Games converted that double in 2022.
Appleby thinks last year's Breeders' Cup experience will help Notable Speech on this overseas trip.
"He has drawn well in stall 2, but it's only a good draw if you are able to make use of it," Appleby said. "Hopefully, he can get a decent position and we know that he has a bit of experience of racing in North America from the Breeders' Cup last year. We are hoping that he can get the job done here and book himself another trip back to Del Mar."
Wild Desert, a son of Too Darn Hot, rolled to a debut win at Haydock Park and enters the Summer Stakes (G1T) off a third-place finish in the Superlative Stakes (G2) at Newmarket. Appleby believes starting from post 10 Saturday will be a tough assignment in the expected field of a dozen juveniles.
Godolphin won the Summer Stakes with Albahr in 2021 and Mysterious Night in 2022. Those efforts marked the respective final seasonal starts for each of those runners but Appleby would like for Wild Desert to advance to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) off Saturday's effort.
"We are hoping that he can gain some experience of the style of racing out there and run a nice race, which could hopefully see him as a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf," Appleby said. "He has been training well but will just need a bit of luck with his draw."
Juvenile filly Dance To The Music enters Saturday's Natalma Stakes (G1T) with an unblemished record in two starts and off a narrow victory in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3). She'll look to follow recent Godolphin runners to win the Natalma, Wild Beauty in 2021 and La Pelosa in 2018.
It certainly doesn't hurt that Dance To The Music is a full sister (Dubawi—Miss Lucifer, by Noverre) to Godolphin's 2021 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Space Blues.
"Dance To The Music doesn't have a great deal of experience under her belt, winning both her starts; but we feel that track conditions at Woodbine will suit," Appleby said. "She is drawn in stall 5 and inexperience might be the one thing that catches her out, although we hope her class will help her. If she can get balanced and have a nice trip, I am confident she will run a big race."
