Supreme tactics

Dubai: Former British champion apprentice William Buick, who scaled the heights last year when bagging five Group wins in four countries, rode a tactful race aboard joint-favourite Duncan to win the Group 2 Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup on the final day of the Dante meeting yesterday.

Buick intentionally raced away from the field for the first two furlongs of the mile contest before joining his eight rivals at the front, a position that he never conceded despite being strongly challenged by Danny Tudhope on 25/1 outsider Blue Bajan and a hard-ridden Manighar, the mount of Kieren Fallon.

Duncan, who finished a well-beaten 15th in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind Workforce on his last start in October last year, won by just half a length but by no means looked like he would be passed.

More focused

"He's really turned a corner. At the end of last season he improved a lot and he's carried it on this year," Buick told Channel 4 Racing. "I think gelding him has probably helped as well, he's got his mind on one thing now."

Gosden, who was winning the Yorkshire Cup for the first time was delighted with his game winner and said: "He's a bit of a character but he has a ton of talent. It's been a little difficult to get it out of him at times but he's got in a bit of a groove more recently.

"I expected him to run a huge race today. He was a little effervescent and fresh and I'm sure with that out of his system, he'll be able to go further.

"William said he had trouble pulling up. We'll give the Ascot Gold Cup some thought. He's got a turn of foot but he needs to start switching off a bit more. This was his first run since the Arc last year though, where he got knocked over twice.

"We'll give him every chance to show us what he wants to do. He won't be running in a hurry that's for sure."

Buick was based in the UAE during the 2010-2011 racing season as stable jockey to former champion trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam. However, it was a season that he will have wiped out from his memory having escaped serious injury during two falls in successive rides at Meydan two days before the New Year.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Norway and holds both British and Danish citizenship. Subsequently missed most of the season recuperating. He rode seven winners during the term.

Gosden double

Gosden was celebrating a big race double having earlier saddled former 1000 Guineas hopeful Izzi Top to win the Listed Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury.

Dancing Raing was a head behind in second and Godolphin's Rumh, three lengths back in third under jockey Frankie Dettori.

All three horses are engaged in the Epsom Oaks next month, but Gosden would not commit to his filly's participation.

"She's a nice filly and she didn't handle the ground at Newmarket in the Pretty Polly - she found it too quick running into the dip," Gosden said.