Globetrotter Buick after maiden Aussie G1 win at Flemington

November 4, 2016 4:00 pm.by AAP

William Buick has made the long haul to Melbourne chasing his maiden Australian Group One victory

Godolphin jockey William Buick has made the long haul to Melbourne chasing his maiden Australian Group One victory.

Buick rides Godolphin’s Scottish in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, his seventh Group One ride in Australia.

The UK-based rider has Group One wins in Canada, Dubai, France, Ireland, Italy, the UK and USA but has been unplaced in six previous rides in Australia.

Buick has had five rides at Flemington previously, three of which have come in the Melbvourne Cup.

“It’s a beautiful track, very fair,” Buick said.

“It’s a great layout and the ground is always nice.”

The 28 year-old, in his second year as a retained rider with Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin, arrived in Melbourne on Thursday night.

Buick has ridden Scottish three times for a win and two minor placings and has no doubts the gelding is better placed over 2000m than when second in the Caulfield Cup.

“He saw out the Caulfield Cup trip really and I was pleasantly surprised by that,” Buick said.

“He’s a very game horse and he boxed on well there but I think coming back to this trip will be of benefit.”

Buick says it’s important to keep an eye on the big races around the world and he took a keen interest in the Caulfield Cup.

He said he’d been in contact with trainer Charlie Appleby and intended to have a chat to Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy who was aboard Scottish at Caulfield.

McEvoy rides The United States for Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Lloyd Williams.

“He’s an excellent jockey but he’s a gentleman and the consummate professional as well,” Buick said.

“Although he’s riding the favourite The United States he’ll give me his honest opinion of the horse.

“It’s an opinion that will have a high value.”

With the English turf season drawing to a close on Saturday, Buick head to Dubai in January where he will ride though until the Dubai World Cup meeting in March.

“Last year I had a couple of trips backwards and forwards (from Dubai) for The Championships in Sydney,” Buick said.

“If I get the call-up again I’ll be there.

“You always want to get the call-up for these races at different places.”

Buick also rides Francis Of Assisi for Appleby in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Tessera for fellow Godolphin trainer John O’Shea and Jessy Belle for Lindsay Park.