William Buick, on course to be crowned champion Flat jockey for the first time, moped up at Goodwood with a 708-1 five-timer on Saturday.
However, securing the championship will come too late for his mentor Ian Balding, the former Kingsclere trainer.
Balding had struck a bet before Buick had ever ridden in a race with the Tote at 500–1 that he would become champion jockey before 2020. Buick, 34, was unfortunate not to take the title in 2020 after a protracted duel with Oisin Murphy. Buick finished eight winners adrift of Murphy who had ridden 11 winners in September 2020 when he should have been quarantining, due to the Covid rules, on his return from Greece.
Last season Murphy again took the title when out-gunning Buick by two winners.
Fairy Cross set the ball rolling for Buick on Saturday when taking the opening Prestige Stakes for trainer Charlie Appleby. Buick guided Hoo Ya Mai to victory in the March Stakes for George Boughey. The colt is now under consideration for the St Leger on Saturday week before having a crack at the Melbourne Cup.
Jadoomi and Buick took the Celebration Mile for joint trainers Simon and Ed Crisford. Buick was also on the mark with Lunarscape for Eve Johnson Houghton and Secret Shadow for Andrew Balding.
Buick is now 42 winners ahead of his nearest rival Hollie Doyle.
Leading Goodwood trainer Mark Johnson, who shares the licence with his son Charlie, celebrated more success at the track with I’m A Gambler. The gelding is expected to make a quick return in today’s Supreme Stakes at the Sussex track.
Johnson, who trained his 5,000th winner on Wednesday, dropped a bombshell on Saturday when remarking that he would join the increasing number of trainers quitting the game had his son not wanted to take over the business.
At Beverley, Tis Marvellous made it back-to-back victories in the William Hill Beverley Bullet Stakes in the hands of Paul Hanagan for trainer Clive Cox.
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