William Buick

LEXINGTON, KY--Godolphin's Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) started off the Breeders' Cup action on an unseasonably warm and picture perfect day at Keeneland Friday in style with a late-rallying victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Dispatched at 6-1 in this 5 1/2-furlong event, the homebred was off slowest of all, leaving him trailing the field early. Meanwhile Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and previously unbeaten Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) sped out to the early lead, dueling through a :21.65 opening quarter. American Apple (American Pharoah), a 51-1...

NEWMARKET, UK--Dawn hasn't even broken on Thursday morning at Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks and trainer Charlie Appleby is discussing with his lieutenants Marie Murphy and Chris Connett which rugs to pack for his team of seven horses travelling to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. "That's 14 crates we're up to now," he says, rolling his eyes and smiling. "Wasn't like that back in the day." Appleby is a lifer when it comes to racing, from his days as a youngster working for Jackie Retter and Susan Piggott, to his role as...

Labelled a TDN Rising Star on his winning debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket Aug. 5, Godolphin's Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Really Special {GB}, by Shamardal) was fifth in a strong edition of York's G3 Acomb S. 12 days later before returning to winning ways in a Sandown mile novice Sept. 14. Sent off the even-money favourite for Monday's Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract, the Charlie Appleby-trained relative of Dubawi's luminaries Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB) was sheltered behind the pace early by William...

Jockey William Buick, Godolphin and apprentice jockey Benoit de la Sayette were crowned Champion Jockey, Champion Owner and Champion Apprentice Jockey, respectively on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday. Former champion jockey Willie Carson, who along with the late Sir Henry Cecil was inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall Of Fame, presented both jockey trophies. Buick, a three-time runner-up (2015, '21 and '21), secured 157 winners, 67 clear of Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand, his nearest pursuers for the title. A former champion apprentice, a title...

Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--God Given {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}), whose yearling half-brother sold for 1,500,000gns at Tattersalls' Book 1 sale during the week, bounced back off a below-par effort--behind subsequent G1 Dewhurst S. hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB})--in last month's G2 Champagne S. to deliver a game victory in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn S. at Newmarket and completed a hat-trick for connections following in the wins of Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the two most recent editions of the seven-furlong...

Flying Honours, who was 2-7 when caught out by a sprint finish last time, had placed himself among the key 2023 Derby prospects previously when beating the subsequent Haynes, Hanson & Clark winner Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 5 1/2 lengths in Salisbury's Listed Stonehenge S. also at a mile Aug. 19. Charlie Appleby was delighted to have him back on track. "As William said, you can see how we got beat last time. They have gone a good gallop today and he has had to stay and stay well...

Confirming his love for Newmarket, Gary and Linnet Woodward's Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) made all under a perfectly judged ride from William Buick to register a third pattern-race success in Friday's G2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge S. Always happy against the far rail shading it from the eventual third Misty Grey (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the May 28 G3 John of Gaunt S. and June 25 G3 Criterion S. winner drew away from that rival and beyond the reach of Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) to score by...

In amongst the group-race action on Saturday, Godolphin unveiled the deeply-promising Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to become Charlie Appleby's latest TDN Rising Star on debut at Newmarket. Sent off the 13-8 favourite for the Prestige Vehicles British EBF Maiden S. over a mile, the son of the GI Man o' War S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) travelled strongly for William Buick behind the early leaders and moved forward with ease to take control passing three out. Sent clear running down into the dip, the relative of Dubawi's...

William Buick is likely to ride John and Thady Gosden's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Paris Longchamp in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was ruled out of the race in favour of the G1 Champion S. at Ascot. Prince Faisal's 5-year-old is a Group 1 winner in France, Dubai, and the UK, and, although he has yet to win in 2022, he has been in the top three in three of his four starts. Runner-up to Arc rival Vadeni (Fr)...

Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's G3 Princess Margaret S. victrix Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}--Roger Sez {Ire}, by Red Clubs {Ire}), who had met with defeat just once in four prior starts, made a significant breakthrough for her antipodean sire sensation (by Northern Meteor {Aus}) with a battling success in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket. The 77,000gns Tattersalls Book 3 yearling and €110,000 Araqana Breeze-Up graduate made a winning debut at Bath in June, doubling up for a first black-type score in the Listed Empress S. later that...

Godolphin's 3-year-old distaffer Eternal Pearl (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Pearly Steph {Fr} {SW-Fr}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) has gone from strength to strength since failing to contend with Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Goodwood's May 20 Listed Height Of Fashion S. and remained upwardly mobile with an impressive tally in Friday's G3 Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai S. at Newmarket. The July 16 Listed Aphrodite Fillies' S. and Aug. 14 G3 Prix Minerve victrix broke from the gates as the 6-4 favourite and employed patient tactics in...

When last seen on these shores, Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire) (c, 3, Dubawi {Ire}--Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) was embroiled in the controversy of all controversies, when erroneously scratched, then allowed to run--albeit for purse money only--in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, which he duly won. The homebred is likely back on his way to the Breeders' Cup after pummeling overmatched rivals by five lengths in Saturday's GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, for which Modern Games earns an all-expenses-paid trip to Keeneland. Allowed to drift back to sit...