Jockey William Buick celebrated a milestone win at Ascot on Thursday, securing his first-ever Gold Cup victory at age 36 aboard Trawlerman, who also set a new track record in the process.
The Norway-born rider, who had earlier ridden Ombudsman to victory in Wednesday’s feature race for the Gosden stable, stood tall in the saddle and saluted the crowd with a triumphant fist pump.
“Trawlerman is a magnificent horse—only beaten by the great Kyprios last year,” Buick said. “I never had to pull him back once; he was on autopilot. I was just a passenger. This has been a long time coming—winning the Gold Cup is no easy feat. I’m absolutely delighted.”
For trainers John and Thady Gosden, it marked their second Gold Cup win as a team, with John adding a fifth overall victory in the prestigious race. He previously trained the legendary Stradivarius to three consecutive wins from 2018 to 2020.
“William said he can judge pace better than me, and that’s exactly right,” Gosden senior remarked. “We knew Trawlerman had the stamina. No one could match him—he simply outstayed the rest. He’s become part of the furniture around here, a firm favourite. After running Kyprios close last year, it’s fantastic to prove he’s a genuine Cup horse and a lovely staying prospect for the future.”
Despite his usual encyclopedic knowledge, Gosden was surprised to learn this was Buick’s maiden Gold Cup win. “Really? He’s a fabulous jockey,” he said with a smile.
Following a disappointing Royal Ascot last year, the Gosdens welcomed their five winners this season as a reward for months of careful planning.
“Last year was tricky, so we’ve been targeting this meeting for four to five months. It’s hugely satisfying when it comes together. Of course, you always have to expect plenty of banana skins along the way,” Gosden added.
O’Brien’s Treble and Other Highlights
Aidan O’Brien’s highly regarded contender Illinois failed to challenge Trawlerman, but the Irish trainer secured a treble at Royal Ascot this week, extending his record to 96 victories at the meeting.
He kicked off with a win in the Norfolk Stakes as the favourite Charles Darwin, ridden by Ryan Moore, powered through a competitive field. “He’s a very special horse,” said Moore. “With two furlongs to go, I asked him a question and he gave me the answer I wanted.”
O’Brien’s team struck again in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes, with Garden of Eden defying her 7/1 odds to claim victory. Michael Tabor, one of the trainer’s key owners, described the race as “probably not the best Ribblesdale of all time,” but hailed the win as “a nice surprise.”
Moore further boosted his Royal Ascot tally to 90 wins aboard Trinity University in the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes.
Meanwhile, in the King George V Stakes, favourite Merchant, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, overcame O’Brien’s Serious Contender in a dramatic finish. This marked the second time Haggas and Marquand teamed up to win this competitive handicap, having previously won with Desert Hero in 2023.
Haggas revealed the tense build-up to the race, sharing that Merchant had coughed repeatedly the day before and even slipped entering the saddling box on race day.
“People don’t realize what trainers go through,” he said, visibly fatigued. “He seemed alright, but I told Tom if he didn’t feel right at the start, to pull him out. We couldn’t share the worries publicly, especially with 50 members of the syndicate here. It’s not always smooth sailing, so when they do win, it’s absolutely fantastic.”
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