William Buick was the first rider into the Winners’ Enclosure at the 2024 Newmarket July Festival courtesy of Ancient Wisdom’s impressive success in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes. That was as good as it got for Buick on the opening day, with the rider drawing a blank from his six rides on Day Two – hitting the crossbar when finishing second on Royal Power and Mountain Breeze. Much better would follow on the closing day, however.
Mill Stream completes 909/1 Four-Timer
Getting the ball rolling with debutante Desert Flower in the opening maiden, Buick followed up when powering First Conquest to success in the bet365 Handicap before bagging his hat-trick on the red-hot favourite Ancient Truth in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes. It was an impressive effort, but the highlight was still to come.
Having finished third behind Khaadem and Swingalong in the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes, Buick and Mill Stream appeared to be up against it in the Group 1 July Cup, with their Ascot conquerors and a host of quality three-year-olds among the opposition. However, Mill Stream’s trainer, Jane Chapple-Hyam, appeared confident that the horse had improved since Ascot – that confidence proved to be well-placed. Patiently ridden towards the outside, Buick brought his mount with a perfectly timed late effort to deny the trailblazing Swingalong by a neck.
Mill Stream’s victory provided cause for celebration among Buick backers, with the four-timer paying out at odds of 909/1. The win also signified a significant landmark in the career of the likeable 35-year-old.
A Century of Group/Grade 1 Wins
For many riders in the weighing room, a solitary success at the highest level would provide a cause for celebration. Thanks to Mill Stream’s triumph, Buick now has 100 such victories on his glittering CV.
First successful at the highest level when partnering with the Mick Channon-trained Lahaleeb to glory in the 2009 edition of the Canadian International at Woodbine, Buick has picked up at least one Group/Grade 1 win every year since. His tally for 2024 currently sits at seven – headlined by the 2,000 Guineas.
Appleby Chief Partner in Crime
Tying for the apprentice jockey title with David Probert in 2008, Buick signed on to become the stable jockey at the powerful Newmarket yard of John Gosden in 2009. Kicking off with five Group 1 successes in his first full season for Gosden in 2010, Buick enjoyed a productive time at Clarehaven – departing for Godolphin in 2014, having ridden 21 Group/Grade 1 winners for the Gosden yard.
Backed by one of the most powerful owner/breeder operations on the planet, Buick has taken maximum advantage of the conveyor belt of talent at his disposal – riding 58 top-level wins for Godolphin’s number one trainer, Charlie Appleby, and two for Saeed Bin Suroor.
The other trainers to have taken Buick to the top table on more than one occasion are Ralph Beckett (four times), Jane Chapple-Hyam (three times) and Richard Fahey (twice).
International Success
Fittingly for a rider who achieved his breakthrough top-level success on the other side of the Atlantic, Buick has continued to deliver on the international stage throughout his career. As of July 2024, the rider, who hails from Scottish and Norwegian stock, has ridden top-level winners in the following ten nations:
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Classic Glory
Buick’s victory aboard Prince Bishop in the £6m+ 2015 Dubai World Cup may top the bill financially, but in terms of prestige, the British and Irish Classics continue to carry the most weight. Ahead of the 2024 renewals of the Irish Oaks and English and Irish St Leger, Buick has nine such victories to his name:
- 2,000 Guineas – Notable Speech (2024)
- Epsom Derby – Masar (2018
- St Leger Stakes – Arctic Cosmos (2010), Masked Marvel (2011, Hurricane Lane (2021)
- Irish Derby – Jack Hobbs (2015), Hurricane Lane (2021)
- Irish Oaks – Great Heavens (2012)
- Irish 2,000 Guineas – Native Trail (2022)
Work to do to Catch Rivals
Impressive as Buick’s top-level tally is, he still has some way to go if he is to catch Ballydoyle number 1 Ryan Moore, who currently sits on 195 Group/Grade 1 wins. Moore, in turn, is well adrift of 293-time top-level winner Frankie Dettori, who continues to make his presence felt on the biggest stage at 53 years of age.
