Newly crowned flatboat racing champion William Buick is set to return to Australia after being arrested for riding his British rival No need to fight in the Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) next month.
Joint coaches Simon and Ed Crisford staged a coup to acquire Buick following a split between 5-year-old regular driver Andrea Atzeni and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.
With UK and Ireland-based drivers unable to compete in the Melbourne Cup for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, Buick’s last ride in the spectacular Flemington race came in 2019. when the winner of 2018 Cross counter eighth place had been rode to victory by Kerrin McEvoy the previous year.
With Cross Counter coach Charlie Appleby unrepresented this year, Buick was free to drive and the Crisford team moved to secure his services.
“William is one of the best riders in the world with an international record that speaks for itself and when he is able to ride we are delighted to place him,” Ed Crisford said.
Buick has been in the Melbourne Cup four times, with his best being a sixth place on Lost in a moment in 2011. He will take over at Atzeni, who has driven Without A Fight in all but two of his 17 starts.
The John Smiths Silver Cup Stakes (G3) winner in York in early July, Without A Fight was a 14-1 overall for the November 1 Melbourne Cup and completed his grand prix prep with second place in a race listed at Newmarket last month before making the trip to Australia.
“The horse went down there well and will be quarantined for another week,” Crisford said. “He is in good form and we are looking forward to him playing.
“He’s had a break over the summer and is back in Newmarket and we’re very happy with the race. He’s been well prepared; he’s fit and healthy and going into the race with everyone. opportunity.”
Crisford added that Jadoomi who was found to have hit a joint after finishing third in the October 15 Queen Elizabeth II (G1) Stakes in Ascot, is likely to be dropped from the year instead of attending the Breeders’ Cup.
4 year old son of Holy Roman Emperor The last two starts before he beat Ascot included the first run scores in the William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes (G2) at Goodwood and the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile (G2) at Leopardstown.
