'We were beaten a long way out' - ground to blame for Notable Speech's Moulin performance

Charlie Appleby blamed testing ground for Notable Speech's performance in Sunday's Prix du Moulin and admitted the Classic winner was "beaten a long way out".

The three-year-old, who only made his debut on the all-weather in January, landed the 2,000 Guineas before failing to fire in the St James's Palace Stakes on his next start.

He then bounced back to form with a scintillating success in the Sussex Stakes but failed to show the same electric turn of foot on his first start outside of Britain.

Notable Speech was never able to get within striking distance of the winner, Godolphin's Tribalist, under William Buick and came home in fifth behind Caramelito.

"It’s obviously a little disappointing when you're beaten but the ground was probably the main contributor," said Appleby. "Full credit to the winner and it’s great to see a son of Farhh go and win a Group 1 like that.

"The ground was too testing for Notable Speech and we were beaten a long way out. William felt he was never comfortable and we'll now head to the Breeders’ Cup Mile."

Despite his defeat, Notable Speech still heads the betting with some firms for the Breeders' Cup Mile, which Appleby and Buick have won in each of the last three years with Space Blues (2021), Modern Games (2022) and Master Of The Seas (2023).

He is available at 9-2 generally for the Grade 1 at Del Mar ahead of Porta Fortuna, who is preferred by some bookmakers at 4-1. The three-year-old was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last season and has had a productive campaign, finishing second in the 1,000 Guineas before claiming the Coronation and Falmouth Stakes.

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