ALL ABOUT RACE FOUR ON SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Big day for William Buick

DERBY DAY 2008
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
EPSOM DOWNS, SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Race 4 - totesport.com `Dash' Heritage Handicap - winner quotes

BUICK RIDES FIRST EPSOM WINNER

Jockey William Buick secured his first success at Epsom Downs when partnering the Andrew Balding-trained Holbeck Ghyll to victory in the totesport.com ‘Dash' Heritage Handicap.

On just his fifth ride at the course, Buick was delighted to enjoy his first success on Derby Day.

He said: "It's good to have my first winner at Epsom, particularly on Derby Day. He jumped out of the stalls, travelled well and got in to a good position before staying on in the final furlong.

"I was fourth in the Dash on Holbeck Ghyll last year so it was nice to come back and win the race this year."

Trainer Andrew Balding was delighted with the ride given by Buick but was also quick to pay tribute to groom Melvyn Rhodes, who has worked at Kingsclere for "years and years".

"Melvyn rides the horse every day and has done a terrific job with him," said Balding.

"Everything panned out well in the race. They've gone a million miles an hour and he's just been able to get the perfect tow. The way they spread out across the track made it easier to get to the stands' rail, or as near as possible.

"The stands' side always has the advantage I think because the water drains down that way.

"I'm very, very please with Holbeck Ghyll. That race was the plan all along so I'm not sure where he'll go from here. I'll probably put him in the Stewards' Cup."

FOURTH RACE PLACED QUOTES
THE TOTESPORT.COM DASH

MERLIN'S SO CLOSE TO LOCAL SUCCESS

Merlin's Dancer, trained just a few hundreds yards from the racecourse by Simon Dow, missed out by half a length on landing a home success when second in the totesport.com Dash.

"He put in a fantastic effort and was entitled to given his record in the race," said Dow. "He was eighth for me last year and was in the same position in 2006 when with Dandy Nicholls but both times it was from a bad draw.

"We thought that maybe this could be our year because he'd come down 10lb and been running well enough recently. He's got bags of pace and unfortunately there's only really one race a year for him at Epsom. I should think he'll go for the second division of the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood now."

Tom Gittins, who manages the syndicate who owned third-placed Safari Mischief, said: "He's just small compared to a lot of these sprinters but ran his heart out. He showed he's definitely up to this level and will go for all the big sprint handicaps."

Last year's winner Hogmaneigh finished fourth and his trainer Stuart Williams said: "The ground had just dried out a bit for him, if we'd had a splash more rain it would have slowed the others down. Saleem (Golam) gave him a great ride again and I've no complaints.

"He doesn't like Ascot and he might go for the Rockingham at the Curragh again but the ground will really determine where he heads, he'll go wherever it's on the soft side of good."

Adele Rothery, rider of long-time leader Masta Plasta, said: "He was out on his own for a long while and probably could have done with a bit of company. But he has run a blinder from his draw and there is another nice race to be won with him."