After concerns of soft ground, and torrential rainfall prior to the Epsom Derby today, trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick made the odd decision to withdraw 1000 Guineas winner Ruling Court from the race over concerns the ground would not suit him, but many believe the two ‘Chickened out’ and made a ‘cowardly’ move in pulling Ruling Court.
The Goldolphin horse who made a very good impression over a mile at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket was set for a big race to prove himself on a tricky mile and a half course at Epsom during the famous derby, but hours prior to the race, jockey William Buick highlighted his concerns with the ground, and had big worries about the horses abilities to compete on soft ground. Despite rainfall not being as bad as expected, and the ground staying pretty good to soft, the decision to pull Ruling Court out of the race was an interesting one, and queries over the real reason have been floating around in the past few hours.
But almost immediately after the withdrawal, it was announced that the 2000 Guineas winner would race at the Royal Ascot St James Palace Stakes, which made people question whether Appleby’s plan all along for Ruling Court at the derby was always going to be based on whether the ground suited him. Thoughts over whether Appleby felt the horse would not make a good impression, and struggle on the Epsom ground have been talked about, but the decision is an odd one and will be deliberated for some time.
But with only one shot at the derby, and such a prestigious derby like this, along with the perfect chance to prove himself over a mile and a half on unfavorable ground, Appleby and Buick have been called ‘cowards’ on platforms like X as some believe they have disrespected the derby, and used it as a testing ground prior to Royal Ascot. Although regardless of public thoughts, Appleby made a tough decision, and Ruling Court remains the great horse we all know, but the major decision to pull him from the derby in an extremely open race, may be one he will regret for a long time, and will be left scratching his head at what could have been.
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