Buick back aboard promising filly after Group 1 near-miss
William Buick will be reunited with Touleen at Ascot on Saturday as trainer Owen Burrows looks to convert the filly’s top-level promise into a first black-type victory in the Longines Valiant Stakes. The Shadwell-owned three-year-old has carried the colours with distinction this season, most recently rattling home for second in the Coronation Stakes after meeting interference, and now drops in grade for a confidence-building assignment.
With regular rider Jim Crowley sidelined through injury, Saffie Osborne has handled the mount in all three of Touleen’s starts this year. Burrows confirmed that Buick, who partnered the filly to victory last term and knows her well, is available and eager to renew the partnership this weekend.
Trainer keen to ‘get one ticked off’ before stepping up again
Burrows suggested the Valiant Stakes is a deliberate change of gear after a frustrating, if highly encouraging, run during Royal Ascot. Touleen encountered traffic before flying late to finish behind Precise, with 1,000 Guineas winner True Love third.
“I’m looking forward to getting her back on track. We’ve been pleased with her since Ascot… Luck wasn’t on our side last time… We’re keen to make her a stakes winner, we’re hoping to tick that off this weekend then go back up in grade.”
The trainer added that longer-term options could include a tilt at the Matron Stakes or even the Breeders’ Cup, while stressing the immediate focus is Saturday’s target. He noted Touleen is not an especially big filly and does not require heavy work at home, which has shaped her preparation since the Coronation Stakes.
Form lines and familiarity point to a strong bid
Touleen’s campaign has been built around high-class engagements, including the Rockfel last autumn when Buick also rode. Burrows believes dropping back to a slightly less exacting level can crystallise her progress into a tangible result before rejoining Group 1 company later in the season. The stable has indicated the filly is expected to remain in training at four, giving connections scope to manage her development.
For racing followers in west London and across Hillingdon, Ascot is a familiar summer draw, and this renewal of the Valiant offers a chance to see one of the season’s more upwardly mobile home-trained fillies under a jockey with whom she has prior winning chemistry. The decision to restore Buick, who “was very keen to get back on her”, underlines the camp’s intent to make experience count.
What Burrows’ plan means for Saturday
Burrows’ post-Royal Ascot reflections hint at quiet confidence: the form from the Coronation Stakes has already stacked up, and the manner of Touleen’s finish there suggests she retains all the verve needed to justify this targeted drop. The trainer’s remarks about swerving the Sun Chariot echo a methodical approach, preferring to strengthen the filly’s profile step by step rather than chase marquee contests too soon.
While the field for the Valiant Stakes tends to attract progressive three-year-olds and older fillies seeking a mid-season platform, Touleen brings one of the sharper recent pieces of form to the table. If she enjoys a clearer passage than at the royal meeting, the blend of racecraft and tactical nous from Buick could prove decisive.
Key details at a glance
- Race: Longines Valiant Stakes, Ascot, Saturday
- Horse: Touleen (three-year-old filly), owned by Shadwell, trained by Owen Burrows
- Jockey: William Buick (booked), with Saffie Osborne having ridden her in three starts this season
- Recent highlight: Fast-finishing runner-up to Precise in the Coronation Stakes; True Love (1,000 Guineas winner) was third
- Trainer’s aim: Secure a first stakes success before stepping back up in grade
| Aspect | Latest information |
|---|---|
| Planned rider | William Buick (won on the filly last year) |
| Recent form pointer | Second in the Coronation Stakes after a troubled run |
| Shortlist of future options | Matron Stakes; possible Breeders’ Cup consideration |
Travel and local interest
Ascot remains within easy reach of Hillingdon by road and rail, making Saturday’s card a practicable day out for local racing followers. With schools breaking up and the summer flat season in full flow, this fixture routinely draws a healthy west London crowd, especially when home stables field runners with credible form lines from Royal Ascot.
For now, the focus is squarely on execution: a smoother trip, familiar hands on the reins, and a race that aligns with the filly’s profile. If Burrows’ plan lands as intended, Touleen could leave Ascot with that sought-after stakes success and a springboard to autumn’s bigger tests.
