Buick swoops for 2,000th British winner aboard El Cordobes

South Wales Guardian

10-07-2025

The four-year-old was one of two Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned horses in the race alongside Arabian Crown, and started at 7-2 with John and Thady Gosden's Palladium the 13-8 favourite after the late withdrawal of Ghostwriter.
Buick took his time in the Group Two before knuckling down in the final three furlongs, when he switched out to find some room and kicked clear for a two-length win over Wimbledon Hawkeye for a famous success.
Buick said: 'It means a lot and I suppose it tells me and everyone else that I've been doing this for quite a long time!
'It's something I wasn't really aware of until pretty recently and you never quite know when it's going to happen.
'There are some places to do it that aren't as glamorous as Newmarket's July meeting, no offence, so to do it here at my home track, for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, makes it all the more special.
'It wasn't by design, you can't design these things, but I'm very happy it happened the way it did.
'I'm lucky to have been champion jockey and I've ridden some fantastic horses for some fantastic people. I had a great time with John Gosden and now with Charlie and Godolphin, I've always been in a very privileged position and I'm grateful for all the support I've had over the years.
'It goes without saying that my family are my biggest supporters, so thank you to them and all the owners and trainers and stable staff and the great horses along the way.
'Hopefully it can continue.'
On future ambitions, he added: 'You're always looking forward and always looking for the next one.
'There's still loads I haven't done and races I haven't won, the Oaks being one.'
Buick, 36, has been Appleby's principal rider since 2015 and has claimed four of the five British Classics, with the Oaks the only one missing.
He has won the last two renewals of the 2000 Guineas with Notable Speech and Ruling Court, doubling up in the 1000 this year on Desert Flower. He has claimed the St Leger three times and the 2018 Derby on Masar.
The only other jockeys still active to have ridden over 2,000 British winners are Joe Fanning, Jamie Spencer, Ryan Moore, Luke Morris and Jim Crowley, as well as Frankie Dettori, who is currently riding in America.
Buick said: 'The one race that stands out is the Derby as we all know the Derby is special and it's the one race everyone wants to win.'
Asked to pick out one ride from Buick that he had given to one of his horses that was the most memorable, Appleby not surprisingly said: 'Masar in the Derby. Just because of the whole occasion and what it meant.
'If you're asking when I felt he's made the difference between winning and losing I'd have to say some of the Breeders' Cup meetings, he's been deadly round there.
'We're very lucky to have him as part of our team and congratulations to him and all his family, it's a huge achievement, long may it continue.'
Buick wasted little time in making it winner number 2,001 when steering Crimson Rose to victory in the following British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
The Appleby-trained chestnut, who is by Invincible Spirit and out of the Group-winning mare Ideal Beauty, was a 7-2 chance and prevailed by a comfortable four lengths on the line.
And it was three on the day for the Buick-Appleby combination with the impressive Opera Ballo (11-8 favourite) taking the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.