The Godolphin jockey will take over from Juddmonte’ s retained rider Colin Keane who will miss the Sussex Stakes due to a whip suspension
William Buick has picked up the vacant mount on star miler Field Of Gold in next week’s Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The Godolphin jockey had been “on the list” of potential replacements since Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane was ruled out by a whip suspension.
Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, John and Thady Gosden’s three-year-old has made no mistake in two subsequent starts under Keane, emulating his sire Kingman with brilliant victories in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, told the PA news agency: “I think John and Thady were to talk to William yesterday to confirm his availability and it sounds like they’ve done that and he’s free to ride him, so I’d say that’s the plan.
“In fairness, until you get to within a week of the event you don’t know what other trainers and jockeys are doing, but obviously William has been able to commit now which is good.
READ MORE: King and Queen ‘working on’ finding an elusive first Royal Epsom Derby winnerREAD MORE: Royal Ascot winner ‘in as good a place as we’ve had him’ ahead of huge Goodwood clash
“He’s a top-class rider and rode a Group One winner for us last October on board Kalpana, so it’s good to have him on board.”
Field Of Gold is set to head a quality Juddmonte team bound for the Sussex Downs, with fellow three-year-olds Cosmic Year and Jonquil also poised for action.
The Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year was second to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, while Andrew Balding’s Greenham Stakes winner and French Guineas runner-up Jonquil will step back up in trip after finding the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot too sharp.
Field Of Gold’s Lockinge-winning stablemate Lead Artist meanwhile holds a Sussex Stakes entry, but appears unlikely to be on the Goodwood squad.
“I’d say Cosmic Year will run in the Thoroughbred Stakes, the Group Three over a mile, at the minute that’s the plan,” Mahon added.
“Jonquil worked nicely this morning and he’s a probable to run in the Lennox over seven (furlongs).
“Lead Artist is in the Sussex, but I’d say he’s more likely to wait. He won’t run against Field Of Gold I’d imagine, so I’m not sure what the plans are for him at this stage.”