Buick Confirmed to Ride Field of Gold in Sussex Stakes
William Buick has been confirmed as the rider of Field of Gold in the July 30 Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood and enjoyed a first feel of the classy Juddmonte-owned grey on the Newmarket gallops on Wednesday morning.
The two-time champion jockey has headed a list of possible replacement riders for the suspended Colin Keane, Juddmonte’s retained jockey, since Field of Gold’s joint-trainer John Gosden revealed at Newmarket’s July festival that Buick would “probably” take the mount.
“William came in and rode Field of Gold this morning and if he’s free next Wednesday, he will ride, providing Godolphin don’t supplement one into the race,” Gosden said.
“They worked nicely together and it’s all systems go for Goodwood. William and I have a long association going back to the pre-Frankie Dettori era.”
The 3-year-old son of Kingman impressed in a piece of work over seven and a half furlongs on the Al Bahathri Polytrack. He worked with a smart 4-year-old handicapper and pulled a length clear.
Field of Gold, one of the top-ranked sophomores in Europe, has captured back-to-back victories for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farm in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1). The talented gray will take on older rivals for the first time in the Sussex, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In event for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar. Among those being considered for the Sussex include Rosallion , beaten a nose to Docklands last time out in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), United States multiple grade 1 winner Carl Spackler , Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) winner Delacroix , and Henri Matisse , runner-up to Field of Gold at Royal Ascot.
Field of Gold wins the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
Buick was previously stable jockey to Gosden and memorably steered Dar Re Mi to victory in the 2010 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan just weeks after his appointment.
After that, more top-level success followed with Nathaniel in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in 2011 and the Coral-Eclipse Stakes the following year.
The pair enjoyed further success at the highest level with The Fugue in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) and Irish Champion Stakes (G1) in 2013 and the following year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Buick left to join Godolphin at the end of 2014 but has enjoyed recent success with the Gosdens when Trawlerman and Ombudsman racked up a group 1 double at Royal Ascot last month.
