Related Articles
- Notable Speech had won the 2000 Guineas in May but was facing questions
- The horse put in a dismal performance at Royal Ascot prior to Sussex Stakes
- It did, however, put on a show on Wednesday as Buick was left elated post-event
William Buick couldn’t take the smile off his face but nobody could blame him after his belief in a superstar had been spectacularly vindicated.
Notable Speech, the 2000 Guineas winner in May, had arrived at Goodwood with questions to answer in the £1million Sussex Stakes after a dismal performance at Royal Ascot in June.
Buick had wondered whether his declaration, two months ago, that Notable Speech was the fastest miler he had ever sat on would leave him looking foolish but he need not have feared.
Goodwood is synonymous with a Festival of Speed and Notable Speech, we know for sure, has a Formula One engine. The change of gear he displayed in the final furlong to mow down his four rivals left everyone on course gasping.
‘It takes your breath away,’ said an elated Buick. ‘I’m privileged to be in the position (of Godolphin’s stable jockey) in but this is what we do it for – the big days. This is how we’ll draw an outside crowd in to racing.’
William Buick was left elated at Goodwood on Wednesday after Notable Speech earned a win
There were questions aimed at Notable Speech after the horse struggled at Royal Ascot
But it put on a show on Wednesday, beating the likes of favourite Henry Longfellow in the race
He is right. Notable Speech started 3/1 behind Henry Longfellow, who was sent off favourite after the late absence of Rosallion, but there wasn’t a second in this historic contest that he wasn’t going to win. He travelled beautifully.
What made it so thrilling was the manner in which Notable Speech, trained by Charlie Appleby, bounded away from runner-up Maljoom once Buick released the handbrake. This jockey isn’t known for making bold statements but he was prepared to now.
‘I rode in Kingman’s Sussex when he won (in 2014),’ said Buick. ‘There were only four runners but I watched him from behind accelerate. That was amazing to watch.
‘I’m on this horse’s back and I might be biased but he has done something similar. It was instant. In that level of race, at the type of pace they are going at already, to have another gear or even two? It’s a rarity.
‘I stuck my neck out after Newmarket about him and, after Ascot, we had to regroup. But here we are again. This is Wimbledon, the Ryder Cup and the Champions League. This is the highest echelon of our sport.’
Source link
