Godolphin appoints Billy Loughnane as retained jockey alongside William Buick

Godolphin has appointed Billy Loughnane as a retained jockey, with Britain's newly crowned Flat champion due to begin the role at the Dubai Carnival in December 2026. The operation announced the agreement on Wednesday, November 4, confirming that William Buick will remain alongside him as one of its two retained riders.

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The appointment follows a season in which the 20-year-old won the 2,000 Guineas aboard Bow Echo and secured his first British champion jockey title. Sporting Life reported that Loughnane became the youngest champion since 1923 when he received the award on Champions Day. His recent successes also include a Breeders' Cup victory on Libertango.

According to RTE's reporting, the Tipperary-born jockey has already become a regular rider for Godolphin over the past two seasons. His first Group One success came in the operation's colours aboard Charlie Appleby's Rebel's Romance in Germany last year. The new agreement therefore formalises a relationship that has already delivered a win at the highest level.

Loughnane's work for Godolphin this year included winning the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster with Desert Castle. RTE also reported Pattern-race victories on Distant Storm, Romantic Symphony and Hidden Force during his championship-winning campaign. Those results gave the owners further experience of his riding before Wednesday's announcement, which follows his latest major success at the Breeders' Cup in Kentucky.

In Godolphin's statement, Hugh Anderson praised Loughnane's ability and expressed enthusiasm about bringing him into the retained team at an early stage of his career. Anderson also confirmed Buick's continuing position, noting that he has ridden for the operation for more than a decade. The announcement sets out a two-jockey arrangement rather than naming Loughnane as a replacement for Buick.

Loughnane said in the same statement that he was delighted by the opportunity and thanked Sheikh Mohammed for the chance to ride his horses at the top level. He recalled that his first Group One win had come in Godolphin's blue colours and said he hoped to add further major victories. His formal start with the operation is scheduled for next month in Dubai.