William Buick to ride in Sydney for sheikh

Godolphin has recruited William Buick to ride in Sydney with James Doyle expected to be sidelined with injury until the end of the month.

Buick, the global racing operation’s No.1 rider in the United Kingdom, has been riding at the Dubai carnival but will come to Australia this week.

Doyle, who was brought to Australia to replace James McDonald when he was disqualified for a betting offence late last year, fractured his hand and suffered a knee injury in a race fall last month.

Buick’s upcoming Group One assignments include either Veranillo or Trekking in the Golden Slipper, Hauraki in the George Ryder Stakes and Hartnell in the Ranvet Stakes on Saturday week.

Trainer John O’Shea said it was an advantage to be able to call on a rider of Buick’s quality.

“One of the great things about the Godolphin team is that we can call on jockeys who have such wide international experience,” O’Shea said on the Godolphin website.

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“We’ve seen that both William and James are world class jockeys. They’ve come here before and fitted in straight away.

“James showed that when he joined us last year and William has ridden winners for the stable in Australia on a couple of previous visits. He’s always been able to make any adjustments without difficulty.

Buick said he felt for Doyle but was excited about the opportunity to ride during the autumn carnival.

“It is an honour to be asked to go to Australia to ride for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, especially in a race such as the Golden Slipper,” he said.

“I feel sorry for James who is still recovering from his fall. But I will be doing my best to ride winners while I am there.

“I am relying entirely on John O’Shea to pick the horses I ride, and where I will ride them.”

Doyle said it was his knee rather than his fractured hand causing problems and he would see a specialist this week with his aim to return in the last week of March.