The G1 City Of York Stakes could be the next port of call for leading older miler Notable Speech (Dubawi), with trainer Charlie Appleby revealing that an appearance at York's Ebor Festival is currently preferred to a return to Deauville for the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois.The son of Dubawi showed that he retains all of his ability at the age of five when winning May's G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, before failing to meet expectations at Royal Ascot for the third consecutive year when last seen finishing sixth in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes.A five-time winner at the top level, Notable Speech could also be considered an unlucky loser in last year's Prix Jacques le Marois when making rapid late headway after meeting trouble to be beaten just a head behind Diego Velazquez. He had been expected to return to Deauville later this month to try and avenge that defeat, but a drop back to seven furlongs for the City Of York is now being strongly considered, according to Appleby.“Notable Speech is in good form,” said the trainer. “We've been looking towards the Prix Jacques le Marois, but we've also very much got an eye on going to York for the City Of York Stakes.“I think seven [furlongs] with a big field will suit him. In all honesty, if you ask me right now, I'd say we're 70-30 at the moment that we'll end up going to York.”With Notable Speech a possible for York, the door is ajar for stablemate Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) to follow in his footsteps by travelling to Canada for the GI Woodbine Mile, a race Notable Speech won last year before following up in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.The latter event is also reported to be a big target in the second half of 2026 for Opera Ballo who, having finished third in the Queen Anne, ran another huge race when occupying the same position behind Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) and Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) in Wednesday's G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.“He's come out of the Sussex well, as in he's sound and fit,” said Appleby. “He was tired, needless to say, as I think a few of them were. They all probably had a lie in the next day.“I'm sticking to Plan A which is to take him to Canada. I want to get him there as I think the tracks and style of racing will suit him, going round the bend and an easier mile.“Doing what he does, if they're going quick enough and you get a lead on him, then great. If he goes and makes it himself, it wouldn't worry me as you can get away with it over there. Here, going up and down dale, where they won't ease off on you, is a different ball game.”He added, “Hopefully, that will lead into a Breeders' Cup. I know we might meet Bow Echo again, but the weights will be different there and, as we know, you need a lot of luck around those American tracks. If you are drawn 14 of 14, it can make life a bit different.”The post York Enters the Equation for Notable Speech; Canada Next for Opera Ballo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.