PartialLogo
Reports

'You never expect this' - great eight for Buick as treble caps stunning weekend

William Buick after his eight-winner haul across two days at Goodwood
William Buick after his eight-winner haul across two days at Goodwood

Sunday: Goodwood

A rampant William Buick, on course for his first British Flat jockeys' title this season, picked up where he left off from his heroics on Saturday with a treble on the card, which took his haul to a remarkable eight winners at Goodwood over the weekend.

Buick had seven rides at the course on Saturday and yielded five victories, including the feature Celebration Mile on Jadoomi and the March Stakes on Cazoo St Leger contender Hoo Ya Mal.

Far from resting on his achievement and taking a Sunday off, the leading jockey pitched up at the West Sussex venue for five more rides and made the first count when Ndaawi obliged in the mile maiden.

He is trained by Buick's mentor Andrew Balding, who also supplied him with Fivethousandtoone in the 6f handicap, while Peripatetic was too strong for her rivals in the 1m4f handicap for fillies and mares.

The 34-year-old is now 45 winners clear of nearest title challenger Hollie Doyle and, asked if he had ever enjoyed a more fruitful spell, said: "No, I don't think so. You can never go racing and expect five winners – not even someone in my position.

"I had good rides yesterday, but thought if I had two winners anything else would be a bonus. It worked out and all the horses turned up, so it was great. I looked at today and thought I had some good chances too."

Jockey Jack Mitchell with Double Or Bubble, groom Natalie Holmes and trainer Chris Wall, holding his reliable stick
Jockey Jack Mitchell with Double Or Bubble, groom Natalie Holmes and trainer Chris Wall, holding his reliable stick

Double delight

Chris Wall's walking stick is more than 35 years old but it is still a handy tool and helped convince the trainer to field his stable star Double Or Bubble in the Weatherbys Stallion Book Supreme Stakes.

The Newmarket trainer was concerned the ground would be too slow for his classy five-year-old, who was second in the Group 3 last year, but he walked the course beforehand and was satisfied with conditions.

His decision paid off as the mare held off the challenge of Misty Grey to win by a head.

"I've had this stick all my training career and it's fairly reliable," he said. "I started training in 1987, so I've had it – and my binoculars – for at least 35 years.

"I thought the ground was on the slow side of good, but my main concern was it being the third day of the meeting and how loose it might be.

"It has been drying so I thought we'd let her take her chance, but she looked all at sea coming round the bend and my wife Carole was like, 'Oo-er', and I have to say I agreed with her!"

Wall, whose winner was ridden by Jack Mitchell, added: "She's a very honest mare and a joy to train."

Lush love-in

The biggest smile of the day was a dead-heat between jockey Megan Jordan and hands-on owner Muriel Forward after Gert Lush landed the amateur riders' race.

Forward was on hand to launch a bucket of water over the Roger Teal-trained mare and said: "I usually do that while everyone is talking and we love her – but we're quite fond of Megan too!"

Jordan is based in Lambourn with Teal, who said: "Megan does very well in these races. She listens and does what you ask and she's getting more outside rides.

"She'll get better with every ride, but gave that a lovely ride."


Read these next:

Weekly Awards: Eight winners from 12 rides: super Buick the big winner as he dominates Goodwood

708-1 five-timer for William Buick headlined by Jadoomi's Group 2 success


Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.


James BurnLambourn correspondent

Published on 28 August 2022inReports

Last updated 18:01, 28 August 2022

iconCopy