William Buick, who has already been crowned champion jockey in Britain for 2022, rounded off a sensational campaign in style by riding 200 British winners in a year for the first time. His 200th victory came at Southwell aboard the odds-on favourite Zealot (GB), trained by Michael Appleby.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Racing channel after the race, Buick said, “I said to Tony [Hind], my agent, six weeks ago when we had 31 winners to go that it was within reach.
“Things didn't quite go to plan until today, but it's great and I've had lots of support. Thank you to everyone.”
Buick missed out on victory in the first British Classic of the season when beaten on Native Trail (GB) into second by stable-mate Coroebus (Ire), ridden by his great friend James Doyle, in the 2,000 Guineas. He later won both the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Native Trail and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains on Modern Games (Ire), the colt who would go on to score his second Breeders' Cup victory at the end of the season at Keeneland.
America has been a happy hunting ground for Buick this year, and he has also enjoyed top-level success in the Saratoga Derby with Nations Pride (GB) and the Saratoga Oaks on With The Moonlight (GB). He was also aboard winner Mischief Magic (GB) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. In Britain, his Group 1 victories have included the St James's Palace S. with Coroebus, who was later fatally injured in the Prix du Moulin, and the Cheveley Park S. On Lezoo (GB), while Rebel's Romance (Ire) won the Preis von Europa with Buick up. Modern Games also landed Canada's Ricoh Woodbine Mile, while Mysterious Night (Ire) won the Pattison Summer S. on the same card.
“It's been a great year,” said the jockey. “I've had wonderful support from everybody. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have had an amazing year with Charlie also being champion (trainer) as well.”
He added, “I would love to go for it again next year, beyond that you never know.”
Former champion Oisin Murphy was the most recent jockey to pass the 200-winner mark in Britain, having ridden 220 winners in 2019, while another former champion, Silvestre de Sousa, notched 206 in 2017. Buick's previous best was 170 winners last year when the jockeys' championship went right to the wire on British Champions Day and he finished a close second to Murphy. He could yet add to his tally as he is booked for five rides at Lingfield on New Year's Eve.
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