Cloud nine: William Buick aiming to build on glorious Godolphin weekend

William Buick played a pivotal part in a glorious 24 hours for Godolphin on Saturday with a Dubai World Cup night treble at Meydan, but the rider insists now is not the time for backslapping reflections and the focus should instead be on cementing the organisation's return to superpower status.

Sheikh Mohammed's racing operation, a regular top-flight force in the glory days of the 1990s and early 2000s, had endured a quieter era since, but an upturn in fortunes more recently – including the Buick-ridden Derby hero Masar last year – have helped awaken the sleeping giant, which was alive and kicking on Saturday when blue was the colour in Britain, Dubai and Australia.

Godolphin's magical day started down under where Avilius won the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill, while at Meydan Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter struck in the Dubai Gold Cup, Blue Point was too quick for his rivals in the Al Quoz Sprint, Old Persian announced himself at the highest level in the Sheema Classic and there was a history-making second victory in the World Cup for Thunder Snow.

Sandwiched among those was the Lincoln win of Auxerre in one of Britain's best-known Flat handicaps.

Godolphin's super Saturday

5.30am Rosehill Avilius Tancred Stakes (Group 1)
12.50pm Meydan Cross Counter Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2)
1.30pm Meydan Blue Point Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1)
3.35pm Doncaster Auxerre Lincoln Handicap
4.00pm Meydan Old Persian Sheema Classic (Group 1)
4.40pm Meydan Thunder Snow Dubai World Cup (Group 1)

Buick, who steered the Charlie Appleby-trained trio Cross Counter, Blue Point and Old Persian, said: "For any person in the industry, Dubai World Cup night is right at the top of the list. Obviously at Godolphin, we feel a responsibility to perform in front of Sheikh Mohammed. For us it's very important, as it is for many others."

Asked how Super Saturday ranked against other memorable occasions in the saddle, Buick added: "I don't want to compare days, horses and races as each and every one of them is very special. Masar was my first Derby and Godolphin's first in the royal blue colours, so that was a very special day in its own right and the Derby is, of course, always special."

Buick, who joined Godolphin in 2015, is keen to use the success as a launchpad for more top-level glory.

"Godolphin had an amazing year in 2018," he continued after arriving back in Britain on Sunday afternoon. "I think it was 30 Group 1 winners worldwide and the organisation was firing on all cylinders right across the globe.

"Godolphin have got off to a great start this year and had the first three in the Golden Slipper last week and then rolling on to yesterday.

"In Australia the season's coming to an end, but it's just starting in Britain so there's plenty more ahead and now's not really the time to sit back and look at what you've achieved.

"I think we'll have a look at that come December when the season's finished."

Godolphin's Group 1 winners in 2019

Put to the 30-year-old, who was joint-champion apprentice in Britain in 2008, that his employers were back to where they belonged, Buick replied: "Yes, absolutely. If you're in the spotlight it's usually for good reasons and we've got some lovely horses to look forward to. Let's just hope we can carry on and work towards the same aim. We're all looking for the next Derby winner.

"We had a nice bunch of two-year-olds last year - Quorto, who has had a little setback, Line Of Duty and a couple of once-raced maidens - so we'll see what can spring forward; this time of year is always very exciting."

Cross Counter: Melbourne Cup winner scored on seasonal returnCredit: Edward Whitaker

Reflecting on his Meydan winners, the jockey said: "All three were special and any win on World Cup night is. I can't really single one out as they're all lovely horses."

Cross Counter and Blue Point had already made their mark in Group 1s, but it was a first in that grade for Old Persian, whose partner overtook Frankie Dettori as the leading Sheema Classic rider after also winning it on Dar Re Mi, Jack Hobbs and Hawkbill.

"Old Persian did very well over the winter and had some smart form in the UK last year," said Buick. "His win in the City of Gold on Super Saturday, and the manner he did that, promised there was better to come.

"I thought it was a good performance in a typical Sheema Classic in the sense that there was an international field with the Japanese horses and Aidan O'Brien's horses.

"It was a solid renewal and he did it well. I've ridden some wonderful horses in the Sheema Classic and it's been lucky for me."

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