Appleby and Buick Chase Final English Classic Win

Charlie Appleby and William Buick are one result away from completing one of the rarest achievements in British Flat racing: winning all five British Classic horse races. Desert Flower won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month and now she’s set to be the top pick in Friday’s Oaks at Epsom. This puts her trainer and jockey close to a big win that not many have gotten.

After World War II, just 11 trainers and eight riders have won each of the five big races. The 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Derby, Oaks, and St Leger. Among the riders still in the game, only Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore have done this.

William Buick’s first British Classic came in 2010 with Arctic Cosmos in the St Leger. Over the years, he has added the other major titles to his record, except for the Oaks. Appleby, on the other hand, has reached this point faster than most. His British Classic run started with Masar’s Derby win in 2018, followed by Hurricane Lane’s success in the St Leger in 2021. This year, he claimed both Guineas through Notable Speech and Desert Flower, leaving just the Oaks outstanding.

The Oaks often tests both trainer and horse differently. Unlike the Guineas, the 1m4f trip of the Oaks challenges each filly’s ability to manage stamina and pace. Desert Flower’s win at Newmarket confirmed her speed and composure, but the step up in distance brings a new layer of uncertainty.

Appleby has publicly expressed confidence in her readiness, but history offers a note of caution. Even legends have had to wait for the right horse. Piggott, often considered the most accomplished jockey in Classics history, needed 16 years to win all five, finally adding the 1,000 Guineas to his list in 1970 after securing his first Derby in 1954.

The Oaks line-up features a strong challenge from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, with three fillies who scored well in recognised trials. O’Brien, already a member of the all-five British Classic group, has trained ten Oaks winners and understands the balance needed in this race better than most. His team poses a serious challenge to Desert Flower’s chances.

Another contender is Elwateen, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, who added her name to the field via a supplementary entry. She finished fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and has shown potential. While bin Suroor’s current stable size is smaller than in past years, he already holds all five British Classic and would take particular satisfaction in seeing Elwateen deny Appleby the missing title.

The shifting structure within Godolphin adds another layer to Friday’s race. Appleby now handles the bulk of Godolphin’s top-class horses at Newmarket, and his recent record shows consistency at the highest level. An Oaks win would not only complete his English Classics collection but further build on what has already been a strong season.

For William Buick, the Oaks is the last missing title in his British Classic record. His long-standing partnership with Appleby has produced major wins across the UK and abroad, and this race offers the chance to round off that collaboration with a rare full sweep of the Classics.

The weight of expectation sits squarely on Desert Flower, but her record gives reasons for confidence. Still, as past results show, favourites do not always deliver in the Oaks. With proven opposition from multiple stables and a demanding trip ahead, nothing is settled until the finish line.

For both Appleby and Buick, this is more than a shot at another win. It is a step that would place them among the most accomplished names in racing’s long history. Whether they achieve it or not, Friday’s Oaks promises to be a race shaped by long-term ambition, competition at the highest level, and the pursuit of a goal few have reached.