By Sean Cronin
With chief rival Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) scratched during the preliminaries, jockey William Buick seized the opportunity of registering a 2,000th British winner aboard Godolphin's ultra-consistent El Cordobes (Frankel) in Thursday's Kingdom Of Bahrain-sponsored G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.
“To do it on my home track for Godolphin and Charlie [Appleby], makes it particularly special,” said Buick after his landmark achievement in a contest which comes with a free ticket to the G1 Caulfield Cup. “The favourite [Ghostwriter] came out, but this horse really deserved it,” the rider added. “He is an exciting horse, he has a bit of a kick and I am delighted with him.”
Originally knocked down to Richard Knight, on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi, for 2-million guineas at the 2022 Tattersalls October Book 1 sale, El Cordobes was acquired privately by Godolphin in the aftermath of that failed transaction.
The 7-2 chance lobbed along in third for the most part, but was shuffled back to last of the four runners as Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) and stablemate Arabian Crown (Dubawi) tackled the pacesetting Palladium (Gleneagles) at the quarter-mile marker. Easing away from the stands' side fence for a clear passage approaching the final furlong and was driven out up the hill to defeat the former by two lengths. Arabian Crown was 1 3/4 lengths back in third while 13-8 favourite Palladium faded to finish 11 lengths adrift. Last month's Goffs London Sale topper Ghostwriter flipped over in the pre-parade ring and was withdrawn on veterinary advice.
“We paid a few quid for him and he's got a pedigree that you can like, but he loves quick ground and could become one of our stable's international travellers,” said Charlie Appleby. “I stepped him up to the mile-and-six at York for one reason only. I thought maybe he is a [G1] Melbourne Cup horse, but I think he told us there that he wasn't. Needless to say, coming back to the mile-and-a-half, we were confident again. It wasn't a tactical race, but they didn't go an end-to-end gallop. If he hadn't got the horse underneath him to pick up then it could have been a bit tricky, but he had the right horse. What we're seeing with him as he gets a little bit older is that he's maturing well and takes his races well. I'd imagine we'll go travelling with him.”
Reflecting on Buick's achievement, the trainer continued, “I'm delighted for William and what better place to do it. What he's achieved for Godolphin, for myself and the team, it's great to be able to give William his 2,000th winner. First and foremost he's a friend, our families are friends, and I'm delighted for them. We are very lucky to have him as part of our team, it's a huge achievement and long may it continue.”
2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for William Buick!
El Cordobes lands the Group 2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes (Sponsored By The Kingdom Of Bahrain) for the top jockey, trainer Charlie Appleby and @godolphin@BahrainTurfClub | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/sa7APeDro9
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 10, 2025
Pedigree Notes
El Cordobes is the fourth of five foals and one of three scorers from as many runners out of a multiple-winning half-sister to a trio of black-type performers headed by G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Tante Rose (Barathea). Descendants of his dual Group 1-placed second dam My Branch (Distant Relative) include dual elite-level winners Make Believe (Makfi) and Dubawi Heights (Dubawi) and G1 Prix d'Ispahan runner-up Almodovar (Sea The Stars). The March-foaled bay is a half-brother to Listed Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes third Amniarix (Speightstown) and the unraced 2-year-old filly Elida's Angel (Camelot).
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
PRINCESS OF WALES'S STAKES (SPONSORED BY THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN)-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 7-10, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.36, g/f.
1–EL CORDOBES (IRE), 134, g, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Bold Lass (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: My Branch (GB), by Distant Relative (Ire)
3rd Dam: Pay the Bank (GB), by High Top (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (2,000,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Bjorn Nielsen; T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-2, $193,188. *1/2 to Amniarix (Speightstown), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB), 122, c, 3, Kameko–Eva Maria (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O-The Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd; T-James Owen. £26,875.
3–Arabian Crown (Fr), 134, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Dubai Rose (GB), by Dubai Destination. (€600,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-GB Partnership; T-Charlie Appleby. £13,450.
Margins: 2, 1 3/4, 11. Odds: 3.50, 2.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Palladium (Ger). Scratched: Ghostwriter (Ire).
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