Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex has got to be close to the top of William Buick’s list of favourite tracks. The Godolphin rider enjoyed one of the best weeks of his career at the iconic Glorious Goodwood meeting last year, landing a seven-timer over the course of the festival, and he returned to the rolling Sussex countryside in red-hot form again this year — mounting six winners to retain his top jockey crown.
So, as Buick edges ever closer to that inevitable first Flat Jockeys Championship with winning rides galore, let’s take a look back at his half-a-dozen victories at Glorious Goodwood last month.
Read on to find out more.
Day one
Mischief Magic
It was a slow start to the opening day of the meeting for Buick, with a third-place finish aboard Mysterious Night in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes — the second race of the day — the only thing worth talking about.
But he finally got off the mark later in the card, guiding 7/4F in the horse racing betting Mischief Magic home in the EBF Maiden Stakes — winning by a length and a half clear of Supreme King and Ryan Moore.
Day two
Secret State
After having to wait late in the first day’s card for that first victory of Goodwood, Buick got the ball rolling instantly on day two — doubling his tally with a win atop Secret State in the Handicap.
The 11/4 favourite, Buick shook the Godolphin horse up to lead over a furlong out, and despite drifting left in the closing stages, they held on to beat Maksud and Moore by just over a length.
Oscula
It was a quick-fire double on the second day of the meeting for Buick, as he won the following Group 3 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes with 10/3 shot Oscula for trainer George Boughey.
It wasn’t as comfortable a run as Buick would have perhaps liked aboard the favourite, as they had to press Internationalangel inside the final furlong before pipping the 66/1 rank outsider by a head on the line.
Day three
Kincsem Handicap
On to day three now and it was another fantastic start to the card for the Buick backers, as the 34-year-old won the Kincsem Handicap aboard Warren Point for Appleby and Godolphin.
It was another close encounter though, with Frankie Dettori looking to cause an upset in the saddle of Blue Trail (18/1) — another Appleby-trained runner — but Warren Point (9/2) headed his Moulton Paddocks stablemate towards the finish to win by a neck.
New London
Doubling up again on the third day of the meeting, Buick won another Group 3 — this time landing the Gordon Stakes with short-price New London of Godolphin and Appleby.
A highly-rated three-year-old, New London won by almost two lengths clear of Deauville Legend and is now as short as the 3/1 favourite to win the St Leger — the final British Classic of the season — next month.
Day four
Rebel’s Romance
Buick’s sixth and final victory came on aboard Rebel’s Romance in the Group 3 Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes on the penultimate day of Goodwood, as he opted to go to Newmarket on the Saturday.
Again, it was an all-Godolphin blue finish as Appleby enjoyed another 1-2, Buick leading home the odds-on favourite by a length clear of Kemari and Dettori in second.
