Saturday afternoon saw the Newmarket July Festival draw to a close. The latest stop on the summer racing circuit provided many memorable moments, culminating in the longest-priced winner in July Cup history. The Godolphin runner, Notable Speech, was no match for 66/1 shot No Half Measures in the feature event. However, elsewhere at the meeting, the boys in blue had more reasons than most to celebrate.
Of the 21 races at this three-day fixture, Godolphin won no fewer than eight. The operation’s number one handler, Charlie Appleby, topped the trainer’s table with seven wins, while go-to rider William Buick matched the Godolphin tally of eight. To put those numbers in perspective, no other owner or trainer picked up more than one win at the fixture, while Ryan Moore (3) and Marco Ghiani (2) were the only other jockeys to hit the target more than once.
Four Wins in Signature Events
2024 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech let down favourite backers when fourth in the July Cup. However, Godolphin fared better in the other feature events, winning four of the eight races rated at Listed level or above.
El Cordobes – Princess of Wales’s Stakes
The Frankel gelding El Cordobes set the ball rolling in this Group 2 contest on the opening day. His task became a little easier following the late withdrawal of Ghostwriter, but he still started third in the betting in a four-runner field. Despite that lack of confidence, the four-year-old put this race to bed with a power-packed finishing effort to score by a comfortable two lengths.
This was a particularly notable victory for William Buick, who increased his tally of British flat winners to an impressive 2,000. El Cordobes became the third Godolphin-owned, Charlie Appleby-trained winner of the race, following in the hoofprints of Hawkbill (2017) and Yibir (2022). Hawkbill went on to claim the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2018, while Yibir famously landed the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2021. Following this Group-race breakthrough, it would be no surprise to see El Cordobes tackle similar international assignments.
Opera Ballo – Sir Henry Cecil Stakes
Unraced as a juvenile, Opera Ballo exploded onto the scene with back-to-back romps at Kempton in January and February, only for his bubble to burst in the Craven Stakes. However, that Newmarket defeat appears to have been little more than a bump in the road for this strapping son of Ghaiyyath.
Much too good for the opposition in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown, he made light of a three-pound penalty to slam his Sir Henry Cecil Stakes rivals in similar style. Appleby’s only previous winner of this race, Al Suhail, later scored twice in Group 2 company. On this evidence, Opera Ballo may have the talent to at least match those efforts, with a trip to Deauville possibly next on the agenda.
Cinderella’s Dream – Falmouth Stakes
Since finishing fourth in the 2024 1,000 Guineas, Cinderella’s Dream has been on her travels, picking up wins in Belmont and Saratoga and finishing second at the Breeders’ Cup Festival and Dubai World Cup Carnival. Returning to home soil in 2025, she warmed up for this with a Listed win on the Rowley Mile course and a runner-up effort in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Approaching the final furlong, it looked like Cinderella’s Dream might have to settle for another runner-up finish, as January and Ryan Moore kicked clear. However, Cinderella’s Dream would not be denied. Staying on as the leader began to wilt, she forged on late for a half-length success. With the memory of her unlucky outing at Del Mar lingering, a second crack at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf is her big target for the second half of the season.
Saba Desert – Superlative Stakes
With five wins since 2016, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have dominated this seven-furlong Group 2 contest for the juveniles. This year, the operation sent a two-pronged attack in the shape of Saba Desert and Wild Desert. However, the duo faced a formidable obstacle, with the highly touted Aidan O’Brien-trained Italy starting as the 4/6 favourite.
Despite earning William Buick’s vote of confidence, Saba Desert started at almost twice the price of his James Doyle-ridden stablemate. Punters who followed jockey bookings rather than the betting market earned their reward. Despite fly-jumping as the stalls opened, Saba Desert showed the greatest acceleration at the end of a messy contest to move clear in the closing stages.
Appleby’s previous winners of this race include Group 1 stars Quorto (National Stakes), Master Of The Seas (the Woodbine Mile Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the Maker’s Mark Mile), and Native Trail (the National Stakes, the Dewhurst Stakes, and the Irish 2,000 Guineas).
Could Saba Desert be the next Superlative Stakes winner to ascend to the top table? The layers were relatively impressed with this effort, trimming him from a general 33/1 to a best price of 16/1 for the 2026 2,000 Guineas.
A fine meeting for the boys in blue, who will hope to enjoy similarly positive results at the upcoming King George meeting at Ascot and the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
