William Buick was in dreamland after landing his first Classic success aboard Arctic Cosmos in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, who lived at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage, with his father, Walter, before becoming retained jockey to Newmarket trainer John Gosden this season, powered the 12-1 chance home by a length and three-quarters from Midas Touch (13-2), with Corsica (40-1) a nose back in third.
“It’s unbelieveable,” he beamed. “To win a Classic is what everyone wants to do, and it has been my dream since I got into racing.”
Gosden’s charge was wearing blinkers for the first time.
And Buick said: “He has been dossing all year. He is still a big baby and we just put the blinkers on him to sharpen him up and to make him concentrate.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here