JOCKEY William Buick has been banned and fined just moments after riding a 66-1 Royal Ascot winner.
Buick, 32, has been slapped with an 11-day suspension after breaking strict whip rules on big outsider Reshoun.
And he was fined £1,150 by racecourse chiefs after using the whip ‘above the permitted level and down the shoulder’ of the seven-year-old Ian Williams-trained runner.
The ban could have huge implications in the race for champion jockey.
Buick, one of the world’s top riders, and big rival Oisin Murphy are tied at the top of the table on 37 winners each at the time of writing.
Both notched successes on day one of the five-day royal meeting, with Murphy triumphant on 11-1 Berkshire Shadow in the Coventry Stakes.
Buick’s shock success on Reshoun came in the Ascot Stakes, where he saw off Willie Mullins’ M C Muldoon by a short head.
Williams was stunned at the length of Buick’s ban.
The trainer said: “I’m very disappointed to hear William’s received a ban of that length.
“There was certainly nothing that struck me as I watched the race to make me think that was coming. I’m a little shocked.”
66/1 winner for @drmarwanK at #RoyalAscot! Reshoun holds off the charge of M C Muldoon to take the Ascot Stakes for William Buick and @ianwilliamsraci
pic.twitter.com/BUq5E2eUXB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 15, 2021
The stewards’ report read: “William Buick, the rider of the winner, RESHOUN (FR), was suspended for 11 days and fined £1,150 for using his whip above the permitted level and down the shoulder in the forehand from approaching the final two furlongs.”
Speaking of the victory, Buick, who has won more than £1million so far this season, said: “It’s a little bit of a surprise but, at the same time, Ian has a great record with these stayers and every time I’m on one for him, it’s always respected.
“He didn’t look at 66-1 show in the paddock – the horse didn’t know his price at the end of the day.
"He traveled around the race beautifully"
William Buick chats to @MCYeeehaaa after his big-priced 66-1 win on Reshoun
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https://t.co/HGM9TtXkhB#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/VA93WXexKJ
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 15, 2021
“It’s one of those races where it’s an extreme distance for Flat horses so it’s hard to really get a get a proper true gauge on it.”
SunSport revealed how Buick had a confrontation with fellow jockey Joey Haynes at Lingfield last November.
Police were even called as Buick feared a man was parked in a car outside his £1.9m mansion.
Haynes was angry at Buick’s riding, which he believed led to him cutting up his one-eyed horse mid-way through a race.
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