Buick Hit With Hefty Ban

William Buick, recently returned from both Australia and Dubai found himself in trouble with stewards on his first ride back in Britain. Buick picked up an eight day ban for his ride on the John Gosden trained newcomer Zillion (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) at Chelmsford on Thursday evening. The horse finished fourth of five runners with Buick allowing the horse come home in his own time some ten lengths behind the winner. Buick advised the stewards post race that the horse hung badly and became unrideable and they subsequently banned the jockey, having come to the conclusion that Buick “failed to pull up a horse where it was contrary to the horse's welfare to continue as there was a problem which was materially affecting the colt's performance.” The ban rules the rider out of the prestigious Craven meeting at Newmarket but Buick has indicated his intention to appeal the decision. Explaining the reasoning behind the seemingly harsh verdict stipendiary steward Sam Angell said, “Initially the stewards had concerns over the effort Mr Buick was making in the straight. He did not appear to be giving the horse a hands and heels ride so we inquired into what the reason was for that. William did report at scales that the horse had hung badly and under his opinion was unrideable. The rules require that you give this horse a hands and heels ride. Having established that there is something wrong that is materially affecting its performance to such a degree that he can't give it a hands and heels ride, at that stage William has to pull the horse up as the rules are written.”