Dubai: Godolphin continues to flourish as a global power in flat racing winning six races across Australia as a build up to the much-anticipated Autumn Carnival.
Stable jockey William Buick, who flew out of Dubai as a replacement for the injured James Doyle, rode two winners which included a thrilling victory in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes at Rosehill.
Having arrived only a day earlier, Buick conjured up a big effort from It’s Somewhat to narrowly deny Brenton Avdulla, aboard New Tipperary.
“This is a really honest horse … the further we went, the better he went,” Buick said on the Godolphin website.
Trainer John O’Shea was delighted to have Buick in Sydney as a replacement for Doyle who is likely to be out of action until April, after injuring a hand and knee in a fall last month.
Buick had opened his account at Rosehill with success on the French import Spectroscope who was having his first run for O’Shea in the ungraded Schweppes Handicap.
“William rode him beautifully,” O’Shea said.
“One of the great things about the Godolphin team is that we can call on jockeys who have such wide international experience.”
A regular visitor to recent Australian racing carnivals, Buick won the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Rosehill on Souchez in February last year and the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last Spring on Francis Of Assisi for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.
Godolphin’s Group-race double on Saturday was completed by the filly Circular’s victory in the Group 3 Shweppervescence Trophy at Flemington Racecourse, home to Australia’s most famous race, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Ridden by Hong Kong’s champion jockey Joao Moreira, the son of Street Cry scored by nose from Zasorceress, the mount of Damian Lane
O’Shea’s assistant trainer Billy Jackson-Stops said: “She’s benefited from getting the best of all the expertise that’s available.
“We’d thought about running her in the G1 mares race in Sydney but John decided this was her level and she’s done everything right to get over the line.”
Godolphin’s winners came at Newcastle where in an unlikely situation, one of its jockeys, Jeff Penza riding Istria, objected against Mitchell Bell, the rider of Obscura, for taking his path.
Obscura had crossed the line a half-length clear of Istria, but had veered left over the final 100m. After an inquiry, stewards duly awarded the race to Istria.
Earlier on the card another Godolphin pair, Florid and Ataraxia, fought out the finish of the Two-Year-Old Maiden, with the former gaining the verdict.
The sixth Godolphin winner on the day, and for O’Shea, was Vigilance in the Class 2 Handicap at Newcastle.
Doyle began riding for O’Shea last November and has since ridden 16 winners.
“Unfortunately, the knee injury flared up and I’ll be seeing a specialist in Sydney after I get back this week,” said the jockey earlier in the week.
“I am aiming for a return to racing in the lead up to Day 1 of The Championships.”
