Tom Marquand is wary of William Buick’s threat for jockeys’ championship

The 2015 champion apprentice currently sits second in the standings behind Oisin Murphy having enjoyed a whirlwind first two months of the season that included finishing runner-up in the Derby aboard Khalifa Sat.

Although fully respecting the claims of reigning champion Murphy, the 22-year-old – who partnered 29 winners last month – feels the Covid rule restricting riders to one meeting per day could favour Buick who is an integral and established member of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation.

Before racing yesterday, Murphy, the defending champion, was on the 61-winner mark and seven clear of Marquand with Buick on 51. North Yorkshire-based Ben Curtis is also in the running after reaching the 50-winner milestone at Beverley yesterday.

However Marquand has not looked back since a successful stint in Australia during the Covid lockdown that saw him record two Group One successes on Addeybb for Yorkshire-born trainer William Haggas.

This link-up has continued in Britain with Haggas, based in Newmarket, favouring in-form Marquand – and the continuity he offers connections – over the supremely talented James Doyle who is also retained by Godolphin and who can exercise first call on his services when they desire.

Marquand said: “The last few weeks have been great and numerically I think July has been my best ever month in the saddle, rides and winners-wise, which is great.

“It is weird not having an official end to the season, as they have not announced when it is going to finish. It will be a long season, I guess, and I’m looking forward to all of it.

“Oisin has got off to a flyer and he is going great guns. I think William is probably not someone many would have initially considered.

“With this one meeting rule it means someone who is retained with a big job like William has with Godolphin can ride that quantity of winners needed to finish at the top.”

Despite being touched off by Ryan Moore for the accolade of leading riding at last week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, Marquand has taken plenty of positives from the meeting.

He said the victory gained aboard the Haggas-trained One Master in the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes was a personal highlight. He said: “She is a dual Group One winner and pulling the victory off in the style she did is always nice.

“It is always a great buzz when you win races like that on a horse of her quality, especially as it was on ground that wasn’t her ideal surface.”

Key to Marquand’s hopes of securing a first title will be the continuation of his blossoming partnership with Haggas.

He said: “His horses have been unstoppable since racing resumed. He has already had more than 50 winners in these first two months of the season, which is some going.

“Hopefully he can continue this way throughout the season. He is not renowned for getting them bang sharp then having them fall off the cliff halfway through the season – he is the type of trainer to keep them going in great form.”

With the flat season now being extended from Qipco Champions Day at Ascot in mid-October to Doncaster’s meeting on November 7, the traditional finale, Marquand knows plenty of twists and turns remain. He added: “Hopefully I will still be right up there when it does come to an end.”

Meanwhile, Mohaather’s main aim for the remainder of the season is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day, with Marcus Tregoning still weighing up a possible suitable option before it.

Given the Ascot showpiece is not until October 17, Tregoning would prefer his stable star to have an outing beforehand following his scintillating success in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

But he fears the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday week may come too soon, while the Prix de la Foret on Arc de Triomphe weekend is too close to the QEII.

“His end-of-season target will be the QEII,” said Tregoning, who was recording his first Group One win since the Derby success of High Rise in 2006. “Whether something slots in before that we’re not sure yet, but Ascot is his main target.”

Tregoning also enjoyed Goodwood success with the juvenile, Alkumait, who could be York-bound.

“I think he could be a nice horse,” added the trainer.

“The Gimcrack is not off the radar so we’ll just see how he is. I wouldn’t want to run him on firm ground at this stage of his career as I wouldn’t want to jar him up.”

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