Notable Speech (GB) back to defend Woodbine Mile crown
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TORONTO, September 9, 2026 – Defending champion and multiple Group and graded stakes victor Notable Speech (GB) will face a formidable group of rivals, including multiple graded stakes winner Deterministic, in Saturday’s $1-million Woodbine Mile (G1T), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series "Win and You’re In" event, which awards an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The 30th running of the Woodbine Mile, contested over the internationally renowned E.P. Taylor turf, has attracted eight hopefuls. The Mile and the E.P. Taylor Stakes, also a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on Sportsnet ONE, CBC Gem, cbc.ca/sports and the CBC Sports YouTube channel, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ET.
A homebred for Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech (GB) returns to the scene of one of his most high-profile victories, when he captured last year’s edition of the Woodbine Mile by 1¾ lengths with William Buick aboard.
It marked the third time in four years that the Godolphin, Charlie Appleby, and William Buick partnership had captured the Mile.
They previously won in 2022 with Modern Games (IRE) and in 2023 with Master of The Seas (IRE), before adding a third victory in 2025 with Notable Speech (GB). All three horses went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) later that same year, completing an impressive Woodbine Mile-Breeders’ Cup Mile double.
“The turning track at Woodbine suits his run style particularly well, and he tends to be at his best when there is a good, strong pace to aim at, which he should get here,” said Appleby, of his 2025 Eclipse Award winner as Champion Turf Male. “In terms of the track itself, the E.P. Taylor course is one of the premier turf courses in North America, so naturally that is something we take into account when prepping horses to go on to a Breeders’ Cup.”
A son of Dubawi out of the Godolphin mare Swift Rose (IRE), the 5-year-old arrives at the Mile off a superlative showing – his sixth G1 success and first over seven furlongs – in the City Of York Stakes on Aug. 22.
“His ability to quicken in the manner that he does despite the ground being a little on the slower side,” said Appleby, as to the most impressive aspect of his City Of York victory. “He travelled so well that day and even though he was ridden more positively than usual, he was electric when William asked him for an effort.”
The original plan called for Notable Speech (GB) to head straight to the Breeders’ Cup, held at Keeneland from Oct. 30-31.
“Timing-wise, it sits well after York and potentially before another tilt at the Breeders’ Cup,” noted Appleby. “We enjoyed our experience here (Woodbine) last year, and when you have a horse capable of competing at the highest level, you want to support and take part in races like this.
Notable Speech (GB) contested the first 10 races of his career at the one-mile distance, winning the 2000 Guineas (G1T) and the Sussex Stakes (G1T) at that distance in 2024 during his 3-year-old season, before closing out his campaign with a third-place finish, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar.
In his 4-year-old debut, he was fourth in the Lockinge Stakes (G1T) on May 17 at Newbury. Staying at the one-mile distance, Notable Speech (GB) then headed to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne Stakes (G1T), where he was fourth.
The chestnut then cut back to six furlongs for the July Cup (G1T) at Newmarket, where he finished fifth.
Back at one mile on at Deauville in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1T), Notable Speech (GB) rallied stoutly to finish a head shy of Diego Velázquez (IRE) for all the spoils, one race before his Woodbine Mile conquest.
After finishing fourth in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1T) in April to start his 2026 campaign, he returned to England to win the Lockinge Stakes (G1T) at Newbury Racecourse in May and was sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1T) in June at Ascot prior to his City of York triumph.
“He was by no means disgraced when we dropped him back to six furlongs for the July Cup last year, but equally the straight mile at Newbury was no issue for him,” said Appleby. “He has won six Group/Grade 1 now races and they have all been at different tracks. Ideally, he would prefer the ground to be on the quicker side, but as we know with these Dubawis, they seem to get more versatile as they get older.”
Notable Speech (GB), who will be retired to the Darley stallion roster at the end of 2026, has fashioned a 9-1-1 mark ($3,995,726) from 18 starts ahead of his final Canadian appearance.
A host of formidable rivals await.
Archivist (GB), trained by Hamad Al-Jehani for Wathnan Racing, brings winning form into his first North American race.
Sent off at 9-1, the 4-year-old chestnut gelding followed up a smart victory over one mile at Goodwood on July 31 with an emphatic 7½-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Strensall Stakes (G3T) at York on August 22.
“He ran a very good race at Goodwood and did it in a very good way,” said Al-Jehani. “After that race, I knew the Strensall would be very good for him. We were very confident that he would have a good result, but we didn’t expect that type of huge performance from him, to be honest. We knew he was a nice horse, and after the finish line, we knew that he could be a Group 1 horse. He got better day-to-day, and after that race at York, we decided to move him to Group 1 races.
“We came up with a plan, and the plan was to send him to Canada.”
The 4-year-old, who started his career with Sir Michael Stoute in 2024, came to Al-Jehani and Wathnan Racing at the end of 2025.
“From the beginning, we knew he was a nice horse,” said Al-Jehani. “When he won in Dubai (at Meydan on March 13), we believed he had the talent to move forward from there. And he has done that, and we are very pleased with him.”
Al-Jehani’s runners have enjoyed high-level success at Woodbine.
In 2025, Haunted Dream (IRE) won the Singspiel Stakes (G3T), while Silawi (IRE) took the Canadian International (G1T).
“We have good results in Canada and at Woodbine, so I knew I would love to come back with a nice horse. Now, we will send Archivist to the Woodbine Mile, and I think this track will be perfect for him. We are very happy to see Archivist (GB) in Canada. He has arrived there, and he is very happy.”
Bred by Cheveley Park Stud from their three-time winning mare Provenance (Galileo), Archivist (GB) is a full brother to three-time winner New Kingdom and a half-brother to multiple winners Cruyff Turn (Dutch Art) and Paddy The Squire (Golden Horn).
Archivist (GB) has crafted a 5-4-2 record from 14 starts, with $402,148 in earnings.
“He is a medium-sized horse, but with a big heart,” said Al-Jehani. “With his breeding, he is able to run over any type of ground. Even if it is slow, I think he will be able to handle it. We are very happy with him.”
Deterministic arrives at the Woodbine Mile riding a six-race win streak that includes a quartet of Grade 1 victories.
The 5-year-old dark bay’s latest triumph came via a savvy 1½-length score in the Fourstardave on August 8, his second straight win in the one-mile turf fixture.
“That was the most impressive win for me,” said jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who has been aboard for all six wins dating back to the Fort Marcy Stakes (then a G2T) on May 3, 2025. “I thought he was at his top peak and feeling awesome. That was the best one for me.”
Trained by Miguel Clement for owners St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable, the son of Liam’s Map, out of the Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel – a three-time winner sprinting on turf – is 10-3-1 from 16 starts, with $3,047,726 in purse earnings.
“We get along together,” said Carmouche. “We pretty much have the same personality. He comes out nice, cool, calm and collected around the paddock, but when he’s going around the track, he’s all about business and wanting to win.
“You just move your hands and he moves for you. He’s one of them – he’s a push-button horse. You don’t have to do much.”
Carmouche is looking forward to Deterministic’s first test over the E.P. Taylor turf.
“You just have to be more patient and sit a little longer. Set him down when he’s used to being set down and go from there.”
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Deterministic was a $625,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
Fast facts: Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux won the 1995 edition by a record 7¾ lengths. Court Vision, the 2010 Woodbine Mile winner, won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile in a huge upset over Goldikova. In 2009, Ventura became the first female to win the race. The 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Tepin became the second female winner in 2016.
Trainer Neil Drysdale has the most Woodbine Mile wins, with four: 1989 (Prized), 1998 (Labeeb), 2003 (Touch of the Blues), and 2006 (Becrux).
Jockey John Velazquez has won a record five renewals of the race (2000, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2017). Two of those victories were aboard the only two-time winning horse, Wise Dan (2012, 2013).
Wagering menu for the Woodbine Mile: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) / 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 4-5-6-7) / $1 Swinger
Field for the $1 million Woodbine Mile
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Deterministic – Kendrick Carmouche – Miguel Clement
2 – Gas Me Up – Fraser Aebly – Kevin Attard
3 – Notable Speech (GB) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
4 – Archivist (GB) – Joao Moreira – Hamad Al-Jehani
5 – Irish Aces – Pietro Moran – Brendan Walsh
6 – Silius (IRE) – John Velazquez – Christophe Ferland
7 – Itsastormymonday – Rafael Hernandez – Don MacRae
8 – Pierre (S) – Javier Castellano – David Jacobson
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Chris Lomon, Woodbine
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