3 minute read
William Buick is confident brilliant Baden-Baden winner Ghaiyyath has both the class and the versatility to produce a bold show in Sunday's Longchamp showpiece.
The four-year-old thrust himself into the Arc reckoning with a highly impressive performance in the Group 1 Grosser von Preis, when he galloped what looked a decent field into the ground, earning both Racing Post and official ratings just 1lb lower than Enable, who will receive a sex allowance on Sunday.
Some have questioned the strength of the form, and there have been suggestions Ghaiyyath might be a one-dimensional front-runner, but Buick said: "I think he's matured and progressed since he was beaten by Waldgeist and Study Of Man in the Ganay, which was a good run anyway, and on his first run at a mile and a half in Germany he was really impressive.
"It was a solid German Group 1 – German Derby and Oaks form – and you have to respect those big races there. Remember Danedream won the Grosser Preis von Baden before she won the Arc, and she wasn't the first.
"On top of that Ghaiyyath won it by 14 lengths with what was a pretty devastating performance – and from a layoff on ground that was quick and rough and not what he would really enjoy."
He added: "He'll appreciate getting on the nicer ground at Longchamp, I'm sure of that, and I wouldn't say he's one-dimensional. If the pace is satisfactory there's no reason he wouldn't take a lead, but if it isn't there's no reason we wouldn't go on and do our thing. I think he's flexible.
"In the races in which he's made the running it's suited him, as he's a very exuberant horse, and a very powerful horse with a big long stride. He's the sort of horse with whom the less you interfere the better he is."
Ghaiyyath has always been held in the highest esteem by Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team, and Buick said: "The Arc is a hard race any year, whatever the opposition, because it's not just the European Championship now, it's the World Championship, but I can't worry too much about Enable.
"She's a magnificent horse – one in a million – and she's been great for racing. We are all very aware of that, and of the fact she's bidding to make history, but we're all going there to do a job and we'll all ride our own race."
Twelve weeks on the sidelines with post head-injury syndrome, during which he missed Epsom, Royal Ascot – where Blue Point completed a memorable King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee double – the July meeting at Newmarket and Goodwood, have served only to heighten Buick's anticipation for Europe's richest race.
The jockey's previous rides in the Arc include two Classic winners, but the closest he has finished has been sixth on Great Heavens in 2012. He said: "I can't really say it's been an unlucky race for me as I've only ridden in the race a handful times and I haven't really had the chances before.
BUICK'S PREVIOUS ARC RIDES
2010 15 of 18 behind Workforce on Duncan
2011 16 of 16 behind Danedream on Masked Marvel
2012 6th of 18 behind Solemia on Great Heavens
2014 18 of 20 behind Treve on Ivanhowe
2015 15 of 17 behind Golden Horn on Eagle Top
2018 12 of 19 behind Enable on Tiberian
