2,000 Guineas at Newmarket: William Buick yet to decide between riding Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court at Rowley Mile

William Buick has a Betfred 2,000 Guineas conundrum to solve.

On Saturday Godolphin’s number one jockey will be bidding to become the first rider since Donnacha O’Brien in 2018 and 2019 to win the first Classic of the season at the Rowley Mile in back-to-back years.

However, at this present moment in time it still to be decided which of Charlie Appleby’s two entrants that Buick was going to partner.

Shadow Of Light, who won the two top level races at Newmarket last autumn, is one of the contenders, as is Ruling Court following an impressive winter in Dubai.

“I haven’t made a decision yet as to what I will ride,” said two-time Champion jockey Buick, who also rode Coroebus to Guineas glory in 2022.

“Shadow Of Light is a champion two-year-old and Dewhurst winner so it’s an obvious race for him to go for. Ruling Court is a horse we don’t know as much about but he won the Guineas in Dubai on Super Saturday when he couldn’t have done any more.

“Charlie and I feel they both deserve to be in (the race). It is a hugely important race and going to be hugely competitive.

“There are horses in there that have run in and won trials but most of them we haven’t seen yet this year and that is always the thing with both of the Guineas races – you just never really know.

“I have ridden both Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court this year and you would have to be pleased with both of them. They are two very straightforward and high-class horses.

“I don’t know if I will get to sit on either of them before declarations time on Thursday – that will be Charlie’s call.”

Yet there is no uncertainty surrounding Sunday’s Betfred 1,000 Guineas.

Buick will be on-board the favourite Desert Flower, who won on her all four of her starts last year for Appleby – including the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at the same track.

Buick added: “Desert Flower was excellent last year and just kept on improving all season right the way through to the Fillies’ Mile, where she probably posted her most impressive win of the year.

“She has done nothing wrong and obviously having won on the track as a two-year-old is a help.

“She looks great and I think Charlie and the team have been very happy with her all throughout the winter.

“She had a nice spin on the track at the Craven Meeting. She wasn’t asked any serious questions but she felt very comfortable doing what she did.

“To ride her, she is a very straightforward filly and can do whatever really. She is super genuine and gives you everything.”

While the Appleby/Buick combination has come up trumps in two of the last three 2,000 Guineas, the pair are yet to enjoy success in the fillies’ equivalent.