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Godolphin's late say with Notable Speech
Godolphin's late say with Notable Speech

New Paper

time09-07-2025

  • Sport
  • New Paper

Godolphin's late say with Notable Speech

The late emergence of a new favourite only five days shy of the running of the £600,000 (S$1.04 million) Group 1 July Cup Stakes (1,200m) on July 12 is not all that uncommon. But when that top pick is only an eleventh hour addition, even coming across in some quarters as an afterthought, it is seen as a rarer betting drift phenomenon. The less surprising element is the identity of the payer of the £36,000 supplementary fee. Only the giants of the racing game like Godolphin, Coolmore or Shadwell have enough depth under their barn roofs to pull off such a stunt, and in this case it is Godolphin, who supplemented not one but two Blue Army horses for the Newmarket sprint classic. Charlie Appleby's Notable Speech is the new first-elect at 7-2, and was joined by John & Thady Gosden's Spy Chief, a 20-1 outsider. However, the real story is not so much the cat among the pigeons, but the stark message it has left about this year's renewal of the July Cup not being a vintage crop. Notable Speech may be a decorated dual-Group 1 winner of the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes last season, but none of his 10 starts has been over less than the winning distance of 1,600m. For a noted miler and six-furlong absolute beginner to unseat first favourite Flora Of Bermuda, a two-time winner (1,000m and 1,200m) and recent third to Lazzat in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot for Wathnan Racing, it does speak volumes about the quality of the original July Cup 14-horse field. If that was not enough of a head-scratcher, Godolphin's only one runner before his two comrades joined the fray, Symbol Of Honour (now 6-1), was the second favourite - hardly a ringing endorsement of his chances by his own squad. History is also against Notable Speech. Tetratema was the last horse in 104 years to boast both the 2000 Guineas (1920) and July Cup (1921) on his honour roll. The intrigue about Notable Speech's short odds deepens further when his recent form is factored in. After a creditable third as the beaten favourite in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile (1,600m) at Del Mar in November, he was spelled, but his two runs since have been lacklustre - fourth in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, both Group 1 mile events. Bloodlines are also a mismatch. Notable Speech is by Dubawi, a remarkable stallion, but more in the speed department. Pedigree statistics reveal that his progeny have only a 15 per cent strike rate in 1,200m or less events, but around 20 per cent for any distance upwards of 1,400m up to 2,600m. Clearly, the Godolphin think tank is not just rolling the dice for fun. It is not unprecedented to see a miler dropping back to sprints and win, even at the highest level. Probably, the biggest incentive to plot a path less travelled for Notable Speech is the apparent lack of depth to this year's July Cup, even if some of them are no pushover. For a start, Flora Of Bermuda was not on top of the market (now 5-1) by sheer fluke. The daughter of Dark Angel has fared well in Group 1s at Deauville, Haydock and Ascot, with her latest third to Lazzat and Satono Reve in the QEII Jubilee a real screamer. On the other hand, last year's July Cup beaten favourite (fifth to Mill Stream) Inisherin (7-1) ran a disappointing seventh in that QEII Jubilee, but the Kevin Ryan-trained Shamardal colt scored a first-up win in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes (1,200m) after a wind op. It would also be to every punter's peril to overlook an Aidan O'Brien runner, even if Whistlejacket is not exactly one of Ballydoyle's heavyweights. At 6-1, the No Nay Never colt, who won the Group 2 July Stakes (1,200m) at this meeting 12 months ago is value for money. Regardless, whether there is method in the madness of Godolphin's gamble, the answer will only be known on Saturday a minute or so after 11.35pm Singapore time. manyan@

'Nothing would tempt me to sell him'
'Nothing would tempt me to sell him'

BBC News

time06-06-2025

  • Sport
  • BBC News

'Nothing would tempt me to sell him'

We asked for your views on Jarrad Branthwaite and his future at Everton, after one supporter described him as "priceless" to the club and a "generational talent".Here are some of your comments:George: Give him a long-term contract that rewards him now and gives him progressive incentives to stay. Monetary and status (club captain?). Make him want to stay. The grass is not always greener elsewhere!Dave: Yes, I completely agree that he must stay at Everton. He is beyond doubt an excellent centre-half and will only keep on improving as years progress. Give him all the encouragement he needs to stay at a club that is on the Branthwaite is the best young centre-back in the world! Tall, strong, quick, good passing ability, everything you need. Just needs to improve his leadership, but that will come with age. Nothing would tempt me to sell him, as you cannot replace him. If the club were to sell, the figure at least has to be £100m starting point. He would be a steal at £150m!David: I hope Jarrad can give us one more season. Then take stock and see if we are progressing. If an offer he or we can't refuse, then fine. Part ways on good terms. But if we overachieve and we are in Europe, then just maybe he will Branthwaite is a really talented defender, but as a Blue, he's not irreplaceable. Remember John Stones? Another generational talent lost less than a generation ago for a quite tidy sum of money. I hope we keep him, but if we don't, it's not the end of the world. We need equally talented players higher up the pitch more, and could plug in Keane in defence and still do OK. Mike: I would like Branthwaite to spend his career with us, but that's not going to happen. He's better than Stones, and he went for £50m years ago. Chelsea paid £75m for Fofana, that's a starting bid. Branthwaite has not been trying to force a move. He seems to be a decent lad. He has a couple of years left on his contract. Hopefully someone will offer stupid money, which would help further stabilise to club.

Trainer James Cummings chasing unprecedented clean sweep of black type races at Scone on Saturday
Trainer James Cummings chasing unprecedented clean sweep of black type races at Scone on Saturday

News.com.au

time16-05-2025

  • Sport
  • News.com.au

Trainer James Cummings chasing unprecedented clean sweep of black type races at Scone on Saturday

Pisanello enjoys the expansive track, Zeitung can pack a punch, Thames is a talented filly and Tamerlane will be strong to the finish. This was how Godolphin maestro James Cummings summed up his stable's chances of making an unprecedented clean sweep of four stakes races at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Cummings can rely on weight of numbers in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m) with Pisanello leading a quartet of 'Blue Army' sprinters. Pisanello was a brilliant winner at the Scone carnival last year and returns a more accomplished sprinter with four wins already this season. 'We targeted the Ortensia Stakes for Pisanello knowing he loves that fast pace and 1100m at Scone,'' Cummings said. 'It is rare to bring a horse like him back from this carnival 12 months ago where he was so good at the Friday meeting. He enjoyed the pace and the expansive Scone track that day. 'Although he has drawn out in the Ortensia, if he can rely on a good pace then he will certainly be comfortable with that galloping room.'' The Ortensia Stakes is so wide open TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have rated Pisanello as the $7.50 equal favourite alongside the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained The Novelist. Pisanello returns to Scone in top form after a brilliant effort to defeat In Flight and Barber at Canterbury last start. It's Pisanello who flies down the outside to win race 7 at Canterbury with J-Mac in the saddle! ðŸ'� @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2025 To underline the merit of Pisanello's win, Barber has since come out and won the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford and In Flight is early favourite at $3.50 for the Listed $160,000 Bright Shadow Stakes at Doomben on Saturday. 'Pisanello is coming out of a strong form race,'' Cummings pointed out. 'He's had a nice barrier trial between runs and he's ready for Scone.'' Cummings conceded Pisanello was the pick of the stable four Ortensia Stakes starters but also made a case for Renosu ($14), Contemporary ($14) and Fleetwood ($21). • Ray & Duff's Scone Saturday tips: $8.50 value bet Renosu resumed in the Pisnaello race at Canterbury, finishing a close fourth, beaten less than a length. Cummings also has also given him a barrier trial leading into Scone. 'If we get a soft-heavy track at Scone, then it won't be an issue for Renosu as he was very good one day on a soft 7 at Flemington during the Cup Carnival earlier in his career,'' Cummings said. 'Renosu is also coming out of that hot race from Canterbury and he tends to really improve with a run under his belt.'' Renosu gets a dogged win! @KPMcEvoy with a lovely ride for @JamesCummings88 and @godolphin. — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2023 Cummings said Contemporary was coming up well and suggested punters give Fleetwood another chance. 'Contemporary is ready to kick off what I hope is a good campaign,'' he said. 'Whether I save him for a week later I have some thinking to do but I like the way he is coming up so far. 'With Fleetwood, I will forgive him his first-up run (seventh at Caulfield). The track got to a good 3 that day and I didn't like the sound of that when the news came through just prior to that race. 'But he pulled up well and with some cut in the ground he has the chance to get himself back in the game.'' The son of Encryption, Fleetwood picks up his maiden win! @nashhot with a nice steer for @JamesCummings88. — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2023 Cummings then made a compelling case for promising three-year-old filly Zeitung to beat the older mares in the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m). Zeitung, who is at $5 and pressing for favouritism behind Written In Code at $4.40, impressed with a close third to Media World in the Hawkesbury Guineas last start and Cummings couldn't fault his filly going into the feature Scone race. 'I like the way Zeitung is continuing to train on, she's feeling well that filly,'' Cummings said. 'She was excellent for us deep into her campaign last spring and she's doing the same now, coming off a positive run in the Guineas. 'Tackling the older mares poses its challenges but she is maturing all the time and she can pack a punch down in the weights.'' Zeitung excels in her return! @mcacajamez has an early tremble! ðŸ'Œ @JamesCummings88 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2024 Cummings was also confident consistent filly Thames ($4.80) would be her usual competitive self despite drawing wide in the Listed $200,000 Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m). 'Thames is a talented filly,'' he said. 'She might still be a preparation away but is advantaged by getting some reprieve in the weights for not winning this campaign. 'She has bumped into a couple of promising fillies, notably Soft Love, but Thames meets that filly better at the weights and has freshened up nicely. 'I concede she is going to need to bring her best at this level and if she gets it right on the day I really can see her running a race.'' Thames is a very talented filly! ðŸ'� The daughter of Lonhro dominates the older horses. @CWilliamsJockey @godolphin — (@Racing) September 5, 2024 • Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Scone on Saturday Cummings also has Photograph ($11) lining up in the Denise's Joy after resuming with a dominant win at Canterbury in heavy going. 'Photograph is coming off a confidence-booster at Canterbury, she was really good that day and relished the cut in the ground to win with good authority,'' he said. 'She is also a winner from Scone last year which gives us confidence she will be comfortable on the track.'' ðŸ'¸ Photograph wins first up in the last at Canterbury! @JamesCummings88 | @SchofieldChad | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 30, 2025 Tamerlane is rated at $23 for the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) but Cummings believed his sprinter had a 'good each way chance'. This is the third successive year Tamerlane has contested the Luskin Star after finishing fourth to Opal Ridge in 2023 then ninth to Coastwatch last year. 'Tamerlane is better for his first-up run at Hawkesbury,'' Cummings said. 'He's drawn well and should get into a nice rhythm which gives him the chance to be strong at the finish.''

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