More Than Looks comes with a strong late charge to deny 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech in Breeders' Cup Mile

More Than Looks thwarted Charlie Appleby's bid for a fourth straight win in the Mile to provide trainer Cherie DeVaux with her first win at the Breeders' Cup.

After success with Master Of The Seas, Modern Games and Space Blues, Appleby saddled 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech, who looked like he was coming with a race-winning move on the turn for home.

However, Jose Ortiz shadowed the William Buick-ridden Notable Speech on More Than Looks throughout and quickened past the Classic winner close home to score by three-quarters of a length at 14-1. Johannes, chasing a fifth win on the bounce, finished second, with the Godolphin runner a head away in third.  

Cherie Devaux: trainer of Breeders' Cup Mile winner More Than LooksCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It went perfectly," said Ortiz, who sat in last place early on. "He comes out of the gate a little slow, but as soon as I saw William Buick in front of me I was very happy. Notable Speech was the horse I wanted to follow.  

"I wasn't worried about saving ground because this horse is better on the outside, so I was pleased with my trip. I'm very happy for Cherie, who has given me a great opportunity to ride for her barn."

It was a popular success for DeVaux, who spent 20 years as an assistant trainer to Chuck Simon and then Chad Brown before launching her own stable in Kentucky in 2018.

More Than Looks pounces late in the Breeders' Cup MileCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I can't put it into words," said an emotional DeVaux. "We've had a lot of faith in this horse from the beginning, but things haven't exactly gone to plan. All the credit goes to More Than Looks, because he's been up against it all year and has answered every call. 

"I'm going to get a little teary-eyed because Chuck Simon passed away this year and this means a lot. Chuck gave me my first job straight out of college, took me under his wing and guided me. I was a very big party girl and, without his guidance, Lord knows where I'd have been today."   

Coronation, Falmouth and Matron Stakes winner Porta Fortuna could not produce her best and finished eighth of the ten runners.

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