William Buick

Godolphin's Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal--Dancing Rain {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), unraced as a juvenile, opened up with a narrow victory going just under a mile at Ascot in her May 1 debut last time and stepped forward to lay down a Classic marker in Saturday's Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. at Newbury. The G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks entry accepted a tow in second for most of this 10-furlong contest. Looming large in the straight, the 3-1 joint-second favourite eased to the front passing the quarter-mile marker and quickened...

Godolphin homebred Devoted Queen (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Fintry {Ire}, by Shamardal) registered victories over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October and over one mile at Kempton in April and maintained her umblemished record, racing in a first-time hood, with a two-length tally in Friday's Listed Sky Bet Michael Seely Memorial at York. Employing patient tactics towards the rear through halfway, she made smooth headway into contention approaching the final quarter-mile and kept on powerfully under late urging to win, going away, by two lengths from Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for...

Peter Harris's 4-year-old Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Swirral Edge {GB}, by Hellvelyn {GB}), who ran second to the reopposing Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}) in last month's G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket on seasonal return, stepped forward to claim a last-gasp victory in a dramatic renewal of Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper S. at York. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trainee annexed Deauville's G3 Prix de Meautry and Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud in seven sophomore starts before undergoing a wind operation at the end of last year. Mill Stream...

Unbeaten G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas victor Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has progressed well since that effort, and is on course for a try at the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot, trainer Charlie Appleby reported on the official Godolphin X feed on Monday. The contest is scheduled to go Tuesday, June 18 and has notably been reported as a target for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Group 1-winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). "[Notable Speech] pulled up well, he's had an easy canter, he's done all the right vitals...

There was a tragic postscript to Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase as Godolphin's Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) broke down shortly past the line having registered an emphatic success in the often-crucial Derby trial. Racing in fourth for the most part under William Buick, the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Secret Gesture (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) stormed by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Agenda (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 150 yards out en route to a three-length success before his cruel fatal injury. Runner-up on debut to Juddmonte's Cadogan Place (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Southwell...

Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas went to an unbeaten colt with TDN Rising Star status, but instead of the bitterly disappointing City Of Troy (Justify) it was Godolphin's Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Swift Rose {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who stepped up to conquer the Newmarket Classic. Sent off at 16-1 on his first start on turf, the Charlie Appleby-trained homebred who unusually had not raced at two and had only been to Kempton so far in his career, was kept sprung-loaded in last by a confident William Buick content...

Last seen winning the G3 Zetland S. in commanding fashion at Newmarket in October, Godolphin's Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Dubai Rose {GB}, by Dubai Destination) furthered his Derby claims with a return win in Friday's G3 Sandown Classic Trial. Sent off the 5-6 favourite for the 10-furlong blue riband prep, the €600,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate was quickly to the fore under William Buick and already held a clear advantage at the top of the straight. Never seriously troubled from there, one of the key Derby hopefuls for Charlie Appleby...

Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Innevera {Fr}, by Motivator {GB}) had won one of five overseas starts since annexing last term's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton S. at Newmarket and made a winning European return with back-to-back victories in Wednesday's latest renewal of the nine-furlong test. The gelded 5-year-old backed up last term's success with a win in Belmont's GII Fort Marcy S. before hitting the board in June's GI Manhattan S. back in New York. He then returned off a sabbatical to place in Meydan's G2 Al...

Making his fourth straight appearance on the North American continent, Godolphin's Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) overcame easy underfoot conditions and five other rivals to add Friday's GI Maker's Mark Mile to his previous victories in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile when last seen at Santa Anita last November. Naval Power (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), conversely racing for the first time on these shores, completed the exacta for the 'Boys In Blue.' Sent off at 77 cents on the dollar while making his 6-year-old...

Godolphin's Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) made her seasonal return a successful one and downed 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify) to become her connections' first winner, in a thrilling renewal, of Deauville's G3 Prix Imprudence. The 37-10 third favourite, who shed maiden status at Great Yarmouth in September before winning the Listed Bosra Sham S., was positioned second in the far-side group and raced in an overall fifth through halfway in this seven-furlong distaffers' Guineas trial. Looming large out wide with 300 metres remaining, she quickened to the...

Godolphin's Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Swift Rose {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) entered the old Easter Stakes at Kempton on Saturday with a two-for-two record and a glowing reputation and exited as TDN Rising Star with a performance that oozed class. Held up last of the quintet early by a confident William Buick, the 4-7 favourite was slipped through the gaps to overwhelm Ralph Beckett's Derby entry Valvano (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) inside the final furlong and surge to a two-length success. The Hannon runner Persica (Ire) (New Bay...

The rider who streaked home in the £4.7m Sheema Classic in Dubai at the weekend is also odds-on to win something rather more quaint. The title of champion Flat race jockey was once contested with fierce pride by men who thrashed car engines dashing up and down the land to ride a winner at Redcar or Salisbury. Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Pat Eddery didn't care where it was, provided it landed a blow on their rivals. Sometimes small private planes would lift them over the motorway traffic. But the...