Billed as a clash of the leading milers from the Classic generation, the 2024 edition of the Sussex Stakes lost some of its star appeal with the eleventh-hour withdrawal of Irish 2000 Guineas and St. James’s Palace Stakes champ, Rosallion. Nevertheless, plenty of talent remained in the absence of the Richard Hannon-trained colt.
Only a neck behind Rosallion in that St. James’s Palace Stakes contest, Henry Longfellow carried the hopes of Aidan O’Brien and Ballydoyle. Godolphin challenger, Notable Speech, flopped behind Rosallion and Henry Longfellow in that Royal Ascot event but had looked like a potential superstar when sprinting clear in the 2000 Guineas – could he bounce back?
French raider, Facteur Cheval, led the charge for the older horses, having finished a solid second behind Paddington in the 2023 edition of the race, whilst fellow five-year-old Maljoom had the talent to take a hand if returning to his pre-injury form, which saw him finish an unlucky-in-running fourth in the 2022 edition of the St. James’s Palace Stakes. Ralph Becket’s Sonny Liston rounded out the field and looked up against it on all known form.
Result
- 1st – Notable Speech 3/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd – Maljoom 11/2, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: William Haggas
- 3rd – Facteur Cheval 5/1, Jockey: Maxime Guyon, Trainer: Jérôme Reynier
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £567,100
- 2nd – £215,000
- 3rd – £107,600
- 4th – £53,600
- 5th – £26,900
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £4
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.65, 2nd – £2.45
- Exacta – £20.30
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £18.06
- Trifecta – £55.20
Recap
With the field lacking an obvious frontrunner, the race looked well set up for Ryan Moore to dictate proceedings and set the fractions from the front – a dangerous scenario for his main market rivals. It was, therefore, no surprise to see Henry Longfellow bustled into the lead when the stalls opened. However, any hopes Moore had of enjoying an easy lead were ended by the unlikely villain, Sonny Liston. Unproven in anything like this sort of grade, the Ralph Beckett runner at least set out to make his presence felt in hassling Henry Longfellow from the off.
Setting off a little quicker than ideal, Henry Longfellow and Sonny Liston were around four lengths clear of the remaining runners inside the first furlong. Notable Speech was allowed to find his own rhythm under William Buick, together with Facteur Cheval, with Maljoom notably restrained at the back of the chasing trio.
No change in the order as the field headed into the bend. Henry Longfellow had won the battle for the lead but still had Sonny Liston snapping at his heels to maintain the pace. Notable Speech appeared to be travelling well and moved up to sit only a length behind Sonny Liston. Facteur Cheval came next, with Maljoom held onto in last.
Turning for home, Sonny Liston made a bold, unexpected, and brief bid for glory when joining battle with Henry Longfellow. The favourite was beginning to edge that contest. However, neither he nor Sonny Liston appeared to be going anywhere quickly and looked like sitting ducks to those in behind – particularly Notable Speech, who was yet to be asked by Buick.
Remaining ice-cool behind Henry Longfellow, Buick pounced when the gap appeared up the rail. The response was electric as Notable Speech rediscovered the exhilarating turn of foot which had lit up Newmarket in the Guineas. Soon a length clear, the race was over in a matter of strides. Maljoom ran a race full of promise, finishing to good effect down the outside to take second, with Facteur Cheval also passing the early leaders to take third.
This was a very welcome return to form for one of the most talented three-year-olds in the Godolphin blue. It also brought a first Sussex Stakes success for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
Runners
- 1. Facteur Cheval – SP: 5/1, Trainer: Jérôme Reynier, Jockey: Maxime Guyon
- 2. Maljoom – SP: 11/2, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 3. Sonny Liston – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Ralph Beckett, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 4. Henry Longfellow – SP: 11/10F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 5. Notable Speech – SP: 3/1, Trainer: Charlie Appleby, Jockey: William Buick
- 6. Rosallion – Non-runner
Non-Runners
Rosallion (vet’s certificate)