William Buick was controversially denied a champion jockey title last year and has sent out a strong signal he intends to achieve that goal in 2022.

The Godolphin jockey won all three big races on the opening day of the Craven meeting at Newmarket, including two for his boss Charlie Appleby.

However, it was trainer George Boughey who provided Buick with the winning mount on Cachet in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.

The daughter of Aclaim, who was placed in both the Rockfel Stakes and Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket as a two-year-old, ran out a convincing winner of the renowned 1000 Guineas trial, drawing two-and-a-half-lengths clear of the second Almohandesah, with Hello You back in third.

Despite racing somewhat on her own towards the stands side of the Rowley Mile, the Highclere-owned filly was always up with the pace and bounded to the front as the field hit the two-furlong pole.

Once she took the lead there was no passing and it is now all systems go for the classic back at Newmarket on May 1st, for which Cachet was cut to 20/1 by some firms.

Boughey said: “I kept saying at the backend of last year that she was slightly weak and she did incredibly well over the winter. She went to the National Stud and had a proper break.

“She came back from Del Mar (close fourth in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf) and had 10 days on the walker and didn’t miss a day from then until now, which is a huge attribute for her.

“We’ve been able to get the work in when we’ve wanted and while she was fit today, she will step forward again.

“She’s obviously a high-class filly and we’ll come back here for the Guineas and give it a good go.

“The mile is the question mark, but she loves the track here which is a huge string to her bow. She’ll be giving us a good shout a furlong out, I hope.”

He added: “It’s massive to win a race like this. It’s our third full year, we had four horses a couple of years ago and to have a horse owned by Highclere winning a classic trial is everything really.

“We won the Pretty Polly last year with Mystery Angel and she went on to be our first classic runner in the Oaks and finished second. All systems go for the Guineas with this filly.”

Godolphin double

Earlier, Master Of The Seas made a winning return in the bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes, hunting down the pace-setting Megallan with ease when asked by Buick.

Frankie Dettori set a moderate tempo aboard the eventual second in the early stages, but the Dante second proved no match for Charlie Appleby’s now-gelded son of Dubawi, who cruised into contention when the pace increased inside the final three furlongs.

It was only a matter of time before the 5/4 favourite put the race to bed, with last year’s 2000 Guineas runner-up looking to have plenty in hand at the line, winning by a length and a quarter.

Although holding a Lockinge entry, Moulton Paddocks handler Appleby is more tempted to target the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and work back from there for the destination of Master Of The Seas’ next assignment.

He said: “We were all wondering what could happen when we took the hood off. We’ve taken it off for his work on the Limekilns in the last 10 days and been happy with what we’ve seen, but he’s that sort of character that you just never know.

“The plan was to put the hood on down to post and take it off as we just felt at home that it was blunting that turn of foot that we saw there today.

“He was the class horse in the race, he always runs well here and I felt the nine furlongs was well within his compass.

“We saw what this horse nearly achieved last year (in the Guineas) and he’s been a touch frustrating to say the least.

“I’m just pleased the horse has got his head back in front. I’m a big believer in getting confidence into people and horses, and he’ll have gained a lot of confidence from that.”

He added: “Where we’ll pitch him next is something we can discuss over the next week or so, but William is very happy to bring him back to a mile. He said he travelled for fun there and picked up and did everything that needed to be done today against that company.

“Personally, I would be thinking miss the Lockinge and work back from the Queen Anne with him. We could potentially find a stepping-stone, but if not I would be quite happy to go straight to Ascot.

“We fully respect William’s horse (Haggas, Baaeed) will be tough to beat in the Lockinge and the way this horse is, we want to be going into Ascot with confidence behind him.

“Everyone knows what an important meeting that is and hopefully we can bring him into the team as a big player.”

Impressive display

New Science appears unlikely to be part of Charlie Appleby’s Qipco 2000 Guineas team despite his impressive display in the bet365 European Free Handicap.

The Moulton Paddocks handler possesses a formidable hand in the three-year-old division, with last season’s champion juvenile Native Trail and his stablemate Coroebus the top two in the betting for the first classic of the year.

Native Trail will bid to cement his place as Guineas favourite in the Craven Stakes, while Coroebus will go through his paces over the Rowley Mile before racing.

New Science, who was beaten at long odds-on at Meydan in February, was a 3/1 shot for his return to European action under William Buick.

And although the Lope De Vega colt gave weight and a sound beating to his four rivals, he looks set to sidestep the Guineas in favour of a tilt at the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“We got him beaten in Dubai, but I also managed to get Master Of The Seas beaten in listed race in Dubai last year and he went on to finish second in the Guineas,” said Appleby.

“We were confident this horse would come forward and he has. His work at home has been good, he had some good two-year-old form and thankfully he’s brought it to the table this afternoon.

“William said he wouldn’t want to be as bold as to say he’ll definitely get a mile. He’s got a lot of natural pace, so we’ll let the dust settle and see where we are after the next week or 10 days.”

He added: “Personally I see him as a tailor-made Jersey horse, but we’ll see. People are dreaming at this time of year and reality kicks in over the next couple or three weeks and I’m sure everyone will change their opinions of what they’ve got and where they’re going to place them.

“We’re very confident with where we are at the moment and the team are in good form, which is the most important thing. We’ve just got to find their level going forward.”