Following an impressive victory in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, Notable Speech has enhanced his Timeform rating to 126, leaving the five-year-old level with stablemate Opera Ballo and only 1lb behind Field Of Gold, two opponents who could meet him next in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
This might not have been an outstanding edition of the Lockinge Stakes, but it was still a strong renewal, featuring several potential improvers taking their early steps into top-level competition. However, none of those challengers proved a match for Notable Speech, who landed his fifth top-level success in style, enhancing his Timeform rating by 2lb to 126.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Scottish Premiership: Celtic break Hearts as late Maeda goal fires Hoops to 56th league title
Queen Anne Stakes now firmly in focus
The former 2000 Guineas winner lacked a previous outing when only fourth behind Lead Artist in last year’s Lockinge, but this high-class performance puts him in pole position for next month’s Queen Anne Stakes and to lead the older horses’ challenge against the Classic generation later in the summer.
Timeform praise for Lockinge Stakes winner
Timeform’s Andrew Asquith said: “Not for the first time, Notable Speech’s sharp turn of foot proved decisive, overcoming some trouble in running to win the Lockinge Stakes, which saw him enhance his Timeform rating to 126.
“Notable Speech’s new Timeform rating of 126 puts him on the same mark as stablemate Opera Ballo and just 1lb behind Field Of Gold. He was rather unlucky in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, conceding first run after meeting some trouble, but he’ll head back there next month as the one they all have to beat.”
READ NEXT: NBA Playoff news: Cleveland Cavaliers dominate close out game seven over Detroit Pistons
Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Simon Wilkes