By Marcus Townend for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:31 BST, 18 June 2019 | Updated: 23:48 BST, 18 June 2019
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An old friend was there to welcome Blue Point into the winner’s enclosure after the sprinter proved his own point when becoming the fourth back-to-back winner of the King’s Stand Stakes.
William Buick is the jockey who had ridden 5-2 chance Blue Point in 15 of his 19 races. On Tuesday he had to watch alongside trainer Charlie Appleby as his friend James Doyle drove Godolphin-owned Blue Point to a length-and-a-quarter win from 2-1 favourite Battaash.
Buick has been sidelined since May 11, the day after he had a fall at Ascot.
Charlie Appleby-trained Blue Point won the King's Stand Stakes for a second successive year
He subsequently revealed that he was suffering from post head injury syndrome, a brain condition with symptoms including headaches and dizziness that can last for months.
Blue Point might have delivered the performance of a soggy first day of Royal Ascot but the sight and positive update from Buick was the best news of the afternoon.
Proud of his old ally, Buick said: ‘Blue Point was comfortable the whole way. James gave him a beautiful, uncomplicated ride.
‘Of course you want to be here doing your job. I’m not, but the team are doing well which is the most important thing.
Blue Point finished ahead of Battaash, who had started as the 2-1 favourite, on Tuesday
‘I’m great but I haven’t got a (comeback) date yet. I am working away and recovering well. A lot of it is in the doctors’ hands and it is just a little bit up in the air at the moment. Hopefully it won’t be too far away.
‘I am keeping fit and am back in the gym.
