Buick's waiting game pays off in Dubai Sheema Classic

Dubai - Seventh Heaven came through for second, ahead of Postponed, who found nothing off the bridle for Andrea Atzeni

William Buick's waiting game paid off in the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic. Having won this event in 2010 on Dar Re Mi he knew how to go about his business and at the end of it he powered Jack Hobbs past Seventh Heaven and last year's winner Postponed to victory at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night.
It looked as if the 2,410m Turf belonged to the Irish Derby winner as he bludgeoned the seven-race field as if making it look like a cake-walk.
With five wins in 10 races for Buick in the recent past, he was confident from the start. But with a small field there was always scope for others to make inroads and Highland Reel and Postponed kept pushing him.
Settled in third early on and with some cover behind Highland Reel and Postponed, Jack Hobbs travelled powerfully throughout and won the race quite comfortably for Godolphin and Partners.
Seventh Heaven came through for second, ahead of Postponed, who found nothing off the bridle for Andrea Atzeni.
"Not easy... blinkers first time and quite a gusty wind - myself and Postponed were racing together, but he's won very well and he's a classy horse," said Buick.
"The blinkers have helped him a little bit. This night is horse racing's Olympics and when you are wearing the royal blue you have to step up your game."
Winning trainer, John Gosden, said: "We had a quiet year last year but his form from Ascot was rock solid. William, as he did with Dar Re Mi, didn't go straight away. He waited, waited, waited. He's been so long off from racing but I just needed him to focus.
"This is great. It's a family horse with all the children here and all of Rachel's great friends over here too. It's a dream come true."
clareto@khaleejtimes.com