Buick’s Dubai hot run to resume

William Buick continues to enjoy a terrific season in the Emirates and last week's victory aboard Six Speed in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial was his seventh win of the campaign.

- Ed Marnane

Retained by Godolphin, Buick, operating at a remarkable 43% this season, has two rides on Meydan’s bumper nine-race card today, both trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin.

He rides Words Of Truth, winner of three of his five starts in England, in the Al Wasl Stakes, Race 5. Rated 110, he is the top-rated horse in the field and was a smart juvenile last year, enjoying his biggest success at Group 2 level in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Heis clearly the horse to beat andis hard to oppose as he bids to give Godolphin, Appleby and Buick back-to-back wins in the event following Symbol Of Honour’s victory 12 months ago.

Race 7, the Lord North Handicap, named after Godolphin-owned gelding that won the Dubai Turf, Group 1, three times, looks a good opportunity for Mothecombe to avenge his luckless defeat when sent off warm favourite for a valuable handicap at Meydan four weeks ago.

Charlie Appleby’s lightly raced gelding missed the break but made eye-catching late headway to finish a close third. It was a decent effort given his tardy start and in the circumstances his performance deserves to be upgraded.

Mothecombe will be suited stepping up in distance and having only had three starts to date, he is open to plenty of improvement.