Tag: William Buick

Master Of The Seas A Convincing Winner of the Maker’s Mark Mile

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 debut on a rare sunny afternoon in Central Kentucky, Master Of The Seas gained a foothold at the fence and raced in the slipstream of pacesetting 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready), though perhaps a fraction keen beneath William Buick through an opening quarter in :24.38 on ground officially listed as yielding, but riding significantly slower than that.

More or less into the box seat inside of 'Rising Star' and 2022 Maker's Mark winner Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) passing the half-mile in :49.20, Master Of The Seas traveled strongly on the turn, looking all over a winner assuming he was able to find running room when push came to shove. They lined up six across the course at the three-sixteenths, but Master Of The Seas went for a run underneath the weakening pacesetter in upper stretch and kicked on nicely to win off as much the best. Naval Power was a touch slow to begin, but split horses four off the inside with a bit better than a furlong to travel and came home well for second. Integration (Quality Road) came wide for the drive, but could not match strides with the Godolphin duo and settled for a never-nearer third.

Master Of The Seas joins the likes of Kip Deville and Wise Dan (2x) to have won the Maker's Mark subsequent to their Breeders' Cup Mile successes. Miesque's Approval won the 2006 Maker's Mark before upsetting that year's Mile at Churchill Downs. It was a first win in the race for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.

“When he's done as much winning as he has over here (in North America) on quick ground, you're always slightly dubious when the ground is as testing as it is out there today, but he does have past form on slower surfaces,” said winning trainer Charlie Appleby. “What I liked about it is that they (stablemates Master of The Seas and runner-up Naval Power [GB]) got into a nice rhythm around there. Naval Power unfortunately was a bit slow from the gate. (Jockey) William (Buick) got in a lovely (position) for (Master of The Seas). Once they came off the turn, all William needed was that gap to be able to give him the signal to pick up.”

Nearly three years ago to the day, Master Of The Seas was winning the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket before going down to a nose defeat at the hooves of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 English 2000 Guineas a few weeks later at British racing headquarters. Winner of the G3 Earl of Sefton S. in a single 4-year-old start, the bay was unseen again until taking out the G2 Zabeel Mile in Dubai in early 2023, but he was never a factor in the G1 Dubai Turf two months later.

The easy winner of the G2 Summer Mile over the straight course at Ascot last July, Master Of The Seas easily accounted for Shirl's Speight in Toronto in September, was outfinished by champion Up to the Mark (Not This Time) in the GI Keeneland Turf Mile over course and distance Oct. 7 and managed to conquer gate 13 of 13 in the Breeders' Cup Mile, pegging back the commonly owned Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) on the wire.

Appleby said that both Master Of The Seas and Naval Power would remain in the U.S., with the former likely for the GI Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4. Both horses will summer in Saratoga, the trainer said.

Pedigree Notes:

Master of the Seas, one of 57 Group 1/Grade I winners for his legendary sire, is one of 10 winners from 12 to the races from his dam, a listed winner and runner-up in the 2002 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France and later twice placed in this country at the graded level while under the care of Eoin Harty.

Firth of Lorne's G3 UAE Oaks-winning daughter Falls of Lora is  not only the dam of Godolphin's four-time Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), but also of Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2019 GI Summer S. at Woodbine, and Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a three- time listed winner in Bahrain this season. Another daughter of Firth of Lorne, Bint Almatar (Kingmambo), produced G1 Metropolitan S. hero Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Firth of Lorne's final foal is the 4-year-old filly Sithchean (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), victorious in her lone trip to the races over the Chelmsford all-weather in March 2023.

Friday, Keeneland
MAKER'S MARK MILE S.-GI, $517,775, Keeneland, 4-12, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:37.10, yl.
1–MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE), 123, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Firth of Lorne (Ire) (SW & G1SP-Fr, MGSP-USA, $163,189), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Kerrera (Ire), by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Rimosa's Pet (GB), by Petingo (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby; J-William Buick.
$306,125. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur & Eng at
7-9.5f, 17-9-3-2, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, GSW & G1SP-UAE,
GISW-Can, $2,520,582. *1/2 to Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), SW &
G1SP-Eng, $217,472; Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}),
GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417; and Etive (Elusive Quality),
SW-Ger, MSP-Fr, $126,693. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com
catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Naval Power (GB), 123, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Emirates Rewards
(GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin
(GB); T-Charles Appleby. $98,750.
3–Integration, 123, c, 4, Quality Road–Harmonize, by Scat
Daddy. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($700,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG).
O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC;
B-Larkin Armstrong (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $59,250.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.77, 5.80, 3.74.
Also Ran: Shirl's Speight, Emmanuel, Kubrick (Ire). Scratched: Du Jour, Equitize (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

 

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Romantic Style Downs Ramatuelle in Deauville’s Prix Imprudence

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 fore entering the final furlong and kept on strongly under stern urging to withstand the late rally of Ramatuelle by a half-length for a career high. Last term's G3 Prix Miesque victrix and long-time leader Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) provided solidity to the form and finished another half-length adrift in third.

“We had a nice race, but she was a bit fresh early,” reflected William Buick. “She's quite speedy, she has a good turn of foot and used it at the finish. It was a good performance and she'll have to go up to a mile now. She's a good filly and, hopefully, she'll keep progressing.”

Charlie Appleby is very much leaning in the direction of Paris and ruled out any temptation to remain at home for Romantic Style's next start. “I don't think she'd see out the mile [of the 1,000 Guineas] at Newmarket, so we thought we'd be better off coming here as it gives her more time between now and the [G1 Poule d'Essai des] Pouliches. She's got natural pace in her pedigree, but she gives herself a chance to stay the mile and that will be the aim. What I loved about today is she did everything the right way around. She travelled and she travelled sensibly in behind horses. When she picked up I felt she was always doing enough to stay in front.”

Christopher Head was far from downcast after the defeat of G1 Prix Morny second Ramatuelle and confirmed next month's G1 1,000 Guineas remains the number one target. “You always have worries when you are not sure if they have trained on from two to three and that was a very positive return. On such [deep] ground you can easily sink after doing too much too early, but she kept finding again at the end. That was most encouraging and, if all is well, we shall stick to the plan and go to Newmarket for the  1,000 [Guineas].”

Tamfana's trainer David Menuisier has yet to commit to a specific target, but it will be a Classic route for the third-place finisher. “That was a very good reintroduction for her. It is not easy to make all like that from the centre of the track. We have now to decide if we go to Newmarket for the Guineas or Longchamp for the French equivalent.”

 

 

Pedigree Notes

Romantic Style is the second foal and black-type scorer out of G3 Prix Miesque winner Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead), herself a daughter of G3 Prix Cleopatre third Excellent Girl (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Descendants of Excellent Girl, who is a half-sister to G3 R A Lee S. victor Fastnet Tempest (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), include the stakes-winning Easter (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}), Listed Criterium de Lyon third Roccia Nera (Fr) (Dream Ahead) and stakes-winning G3 Topkapi Trophy third Peekaboo (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to Listed Brigids Pastures victrix Are We Dreaming (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}), a 2-year-old filly by Earthlight (Ire) and a yearling colt by Space Blues (Ire).

Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX IMPRUDENCE-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 4-9, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:31.95, vhy.
1–ROMANTIC STYLE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Sweety Dream (Fr) (GSW-Fr), by Dream Ahead
2nd Dam: Excellent Girl (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
3rd Dam: Dame Blanche (Ire), by Be My Guest
1ST GROUP WIN. (€240,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 550,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Wansdyke Farms, SH Bloodstock, J Burke & Oghill (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 4-3-0-0, €71,633. *1/2 to Are We Dreaming (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}), SW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ramatuelle, 126, f, 3, Justify–Raven's Lady (GB), by Raven's Pass. (€100,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France SC, Chun Wai Kwok, Arthur Hoyeau, Mme Ilse Smits & Clement Tropres; B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (KY); T-Christopher Head. €16,000.
3–Tamfana (Ger), 126, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Tres Magnifique (Fr), by Zoffany (Ire). (€20,000 Ylg '22 BBAGS). O-QRL VIII & Friends; B-Gestut Etzean & Hans-Helmut Rodenburg (GER); T-David Menuisier. €12,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 2. Odds: 3.70, 0.90, 3.40.
Also Ran: Great Generation (Ire), Shady Lady (Fr), Abstract (Fr), Alabama Moon (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Dubawi’s Notable Speech A New Rising Star

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 {GB}) was a further half a length away in third.
“Today was a warm race with a few unexposed types and he gave away weight to all of them, so I'm delighted,” Buick said after the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily British EBF Conditions S., which formerly carried listed status when known as the Easter. “I was very pleased with how he has done physically since the last time I rode him–he has really filled out and I feel like he has grown a bit as well, which is always nice to see from a horse who has had two runs. I couldn't be more happy with him and I tested him a little bit today and he quickened up in a stride.”
Charlie Appleby has entered the son of the G3 UAE Oaks runner-up Swift Rose, who beat the subsequent listed scorer Cuban Tiger (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the European Road To The Kentucky Derby Conditions S. here in February, in the 2000 Guineas and Buick was not ruling that out as a valid objective. “I just had to pick a path and he's such a genuine, easy horse to deal with,” he added. “He's got a bright future ahead of him. It's so wet, so it was a nice opportunity for him to come here and run again on this surface. I think he would handle a little bit of cut in the ground, but he's a very fast horse with a low action, so I think he would want a bit of decent ground. He's opened up a few options there, but he's a speedy miler.”
Notable Speech, the 39th TDN Rising Star for Dubawi, is the first foal out of the aforementioned Swift Rose who is a daughter of the ill-fated Listed Prix Ceres winner and G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de Meautry runner-up Tulips (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Before her death in 2022, she also produced Dubawi's G3 Burj Nahaar winner Desert Wisdom (GB) and also the GI Natalma S. and G3 Fred Darling S. scorer Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Swift Rose's yearling is a daughter of Pinatubo (Ire). Dubawi's TDN Rising Star tally includes the high-achieving Too Darn Hot (GB), In Italian (GB), Space Blues (Ire) and Zarak (Fr).
6th-Kempton, £30,000, Cond, 4-6, 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT), 1:40.25, st/sl.
NOTABLE SPEECH (GB), c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: Swift Rose (Ire) (GSP-UAE, $135,326), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Tulips (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
     3rd Dam: Hint Of Spring (GB), by Seeking The Gold
Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $63,378. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby.

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Lure of Global Riches Alters Face of Jockeys’ Championship

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 mission never changed. Champion jockey was a crown worth fighting for. One year Carson expended so much energy to win it that he needed a week in bed to recover.

William Buick, who won the Sheema Classic on Rebel's Romance, has been No 1 for the last two seasons and is 8/13 to complete his hat-trick. Oisin Murphy finished in front in the previous three campaigns (2019 to 2021) but now says he will not forego a big international ride for the sake of being champion once again.

The truncation of the jockeys' league in 2015 so that it now operates from May 4 to October 19 owed more to politics than stage management. Nobody could pretend the 'narrative' of identifying the top jockey has been strengthened by starting it at the Guineas meeting and calling a halt on Champions' Day. The public isn't exactly on tenterhooks to see whether Buick can hold off Murphy, Rossa Ryan, Silvestre de Sousa and Tom Marquand, who complete the top five in the betting.

But behind the UK Flat Jockeys' Championship's struggle for relevance sits a reality we sometimes take for granted: the extraordinary globalisation of the Flat race pilot's trade.

In prioritising big races abroad above little ones at Bath or Beverley, Murphy was merely adopting a position now assumed by the world's best cricketers. Test matches no longer anchor their career planning. As England's Kevin Pietersen is fond of saying, cricketers are becoming international freelancers, attached to this or that T20 league, with the Indian Premier League the mothership of salaries. Playing for England or Australia may cease to be the defining honour for players who see themselves as hired guns.

Behind the UK Flat Jockeys' Championship's struggle for
relevance sits a reality we sometimes take for granted: the
extraordinary globalisation of the Flat race pilot's trade

In racing, tie-ins with owners and trainers still have a large say in where jockeys go. Buick was riding for Godolphin at Meydan and Ryan Moore was there to accompany Aidan O'Brien's runners. And yet, taking in the sweep of colossally valuable fixtures in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai this winter, it's easy to form a picture of the elite end of racing becoming a game without frontiers.

Moore holds the title of Longines World's Best Jockey (he won it too in 2014, 2016 and 2021). We think of him as Coolmore's 'finisher' in the UK and Ireland. But his cv maps out his global reach (not to mention the time spent on planes). Outside Europe he has won the Japan Cup, Melbourne Cup, Hong Kong Vase and races at the Breeders' Cup. He's unlikely to be tortured by the knowledge that he hasn't been the champ in his homeland since 2009.

The champion jockey title still resonates. It still offers a measure of greatness in the saddle. Nat Flatman claimed the first 13 titles from 1840 to 1852. Gordon Richards won it 26 times between 1925 and 1953. Names still pop out to induce nostalgia: Joe Mercer's lone win in 1979, or Steve Cauthen's three.  Jim Crowley's victory at 38 years old in 2016, 10 years after he switched from jump racing, was a stellar accomplishment.

If Buick is anointed again this autumn the completion of his hat-trick will bring him joy. Nobody however could expect him to crave another winners-ridden victory ahead of a revival for Charlie Appleby's yard in this campaign (Rebel's Romance was a promising start).

Racing isn't alone in pivoting away from the old markers of excellence. The compulsion in world sport is to follow the money, which can be found in new places, new events. Ask the footballers signing for Saudi Arabian clubs.

This isn't just a British and Irish trend. Falling in love with Japanese racing yielded spectacular results for France's Christophe Lemaire. Three times Lemaire has been Japan's No 1 rider, by races won. Numbers though are less of a guarantee of immortality than his partnerships with Almond Eye and Equinox, a conveyance of extraordinary grandeur, and the worldwide horse of the year in 2023.

This free flow of human talent to where the best horses and biggest prizes are follows modern norms. If it means we see a less entertaining scrap for autumn wins at Catterick or Ripon then we'll just have to hope the champion buys us a drink from his or her vast international earnings. 

Racing may sometimes be stuck in a loop of self-doubt, but the growing opulence of the global calendar is one field where decline is not conspicuous. Piggott, Eddery and Carson boarded aeroplanes too, often in Europe, but usually to get them from an afternoon meeting in Britain to an evening one.

 

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