It’s fair to say that the opening Classics of the 2025 campaign couldn’t have gone much better for the team in the blue of Godolphin. As ever, all of the leading owners in the sport arrived at Newmarket with dreams of Guineas glory. For all bar Godolphin, those dreams remained unrealised in 2025.
Thanks to the exploits of Desert Flower and Ruling Court, the powerful owner/breeder operation grabbed gold in the two opening classics of the season – claiming the 1,000 Guineas for a fifth time and the 2,000 Guineas for a sixth.
The next stop on the Classic tour arrives at Epsom this week as the Sussex venue stages the latest renewals of the Oaks and the Derby. When compared to the Newmarket Classics, Godolphin haven’t tasted as much success at Epsom. Waiting until 2018 to claim the Derby for the first time with Masar, they added a second with Adayar in 2021 but have drawn a blank since. Meanwhile, the Frankie Dettori-ridden Kazzia provided their only Oaks triumph in 2002.
However, rarely have Godolphin headed to Epsom with such strength. Aiming to complete a Classic double, Desert Flower and Ruling Court are prominent in the betting for their respective events. As ever, they will have one of the most talented riders in the sport doing the steering.
Brilliant at Newmarket, Can Buick Complete the Classic Collection?
Not all riders covered themselves in glory at Newmarket, most notably Kieran Shoemark, whose overconfidence aboard Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas ultimately cost him his job as the number one rider at the John & Thady Gosden yard.
However, whereas Shoemark waited too long in the colts’ Classic, Buick timed his run to perfection to hit the line in front aboard Ruling Court. One day later, the 36-year-old was at it again with an expertly executed front-running success aboard Desert Flower in the 1,000 Guineas. In completing the Newmarket double, Buick improved his Classic winning CV to the following:
- 1000 Guineas – Desert Flower (2025)
- 2000 Guineas – Notable Speech (2024), Ruling Court (2025)
- Derby – Masar (2018)
- St Leger – Arctic Cosmos (2010), Masked Marvel (2011), Hurricane Lane (2021)
As impressive as that record is, there is one glaring omission – Buick has yet to claim the Oaks. Coming closest when second aboard Wild Illusion in 2018 and Dance Sequence in 2024, could this be the year he completes the set?
Desert Flower The One to Beat… If She Stays
According to the betting market, Buick has every chance of adding the Oaks to his haul, with 1,000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower currently heading the market at a best price of 6/4.
Flawless during a four-win juvenile campaign, which culminated in a five-and-a-half-length romp in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, she maintained that unbeaten record in fine style at HQ. If repeating that level of form as she moves up to 1m4f for the first time, she could be the one to beat.
Buick sounded optimistic about the chances of his mount when stating:
“Desert Flower has never put a foot wrong. She’s well-balanced and travels well, and tactically, she’s incredibly versatile – I don’t think Epsom is going to pose any problems. She’s always been strong towards the end of her races.”
Of course, being strong at the end of a one-mile event doesn’t necessarily translate to an ability to stay a mile and a half. Pedigree fans may find holes in the favourite. Sire Night Of Thunder achieved his finest hour over a mile in the 2,000 Guineas, whilst dam, Promising Run, was a Group winner at up to 1m1f but finished nearer last than first on her only outing over 1m4f. For now, we can only speculate on Desert Flower’s stamina. We will only truly know the answer when push comes to shove in the home straight on Friday afternoon.
Ruling Court to Justify Market Support?
However Desert Flower fares in the fillies’ event, Buick looks to have a solid chance of adding a second Derby to his haul. Having etched his place in Godolphin legend when handing the owners a first Derby success in 2018, Buick then missed out in 2021, when opting to ride Hurricane Lane ahead of his winning stablemate Adayar.
Buick need have no concerns about making the wrong decision in 2025 as Charlie Appleby has just one entry. If Ruling Court continues on his upward trajectory, one may well be enough.
Unlike Desert Flower, Ruling Court wasn’t quite perfect as a juvenile, with a debut win at Sandown preceding a third-placed effort behind The Lion In Winter in the Acomb Stakes. However, he is yet to taste defeat at three, with his half-length verdict in the 2,000 Guineas following a six-length stroll in a Listed event out in Meydan.
Yet to race beyond a mile, stamina is again the big question. However, there is plenty of hope in Ruling Court’s pedigree. We need only look back to the 2024 success of City Of Troy for evidence that his sire, Justify, is capable of siring an Epsom Derby hero. Dam, Inchargeofme, failed to shine in a brief career at the track but is by High Chaparral, who claimed the 2002 Derby.
No jockey has ever won the opening four Classics of the year in the same season. Could Buick etch his name into the history books this coming weekend?