The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Masar’s Derby win tops lot for jockey Buick
RACING: Epsom victory hailed as ‘special’ as Godolphin finally broke their duck
William Buick has hailed his victory aboard Masar in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday as the greatest moment of his career to date.
Although the 29-year-old has tasted victory at the top level across the world, he has placed his success aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained son of New Approach at the top of the pile.
He said: “I would say it’s my biggest win. I’ve ridden in it a few times and come second a couple of times.
“Breeders’ Cup races are very big but the Derby, there is something special about it.
“I think any horse person in the world, certainly this part of the world, would say it’s the race to win.
“I’ve ticked that box 100% now and I want to tick it again.
“You can never rest on your laurels but in this sport you move on so quickly. You have to keep focused and keep your hunger up.
“To see Sheikh Mohammed and all the family so happy, for me personally, and for everyone involved, it meant a huge amount.”
He added: “It probably hasn’t quite sunk in, the magnitude of it and that it was the first blue colours of Godolphin to win it – and for me to be the jockey to deliver that success.
“I’m working through thanking everyone and it is very nice to see all the wellwishes and people writing lovely messages and congratulating me.
“This is what everyone in the sport gets up in the morning for.”
Appleby said: “For me, to be part of it and deliver the horse on the day and get the result we have been looking forward to for so long now that’s probably still not sunk in yet.
“It’s a little bit of a bubble here and I don’t go across to the heath very often.
“The well-wishes that have come my way you know it means a lot to Newmarket and for much of the industry across Europe and the world. It’s fantastic and one hopes this is a new chapter.”
With one Classic in the locker, a tilt at another could be next up for Masar, with Appleby leaning towards an outing in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 30.
He said: “He is not in the Eclipse but it is there (as an option). The Irish Derby is a route we would like to look down but it wouldn’t faze me, dropping back down to 10 furlongs.
“The Pattern book is for a reason and it is mapped out to give you time between each race to either end up in an Arc or a Champion Stakes.
“Those are two races we want to turn up in one of. How we get there we will discuss that over the next fortnight.”