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Another visit to Hong Kong for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) on 4 December at Happy Valley brings back memories for William Buick from a time his glittering career was only just beginning.
In 2008, on one of his first major assignments, he was involved in the Hong Kong International Races and partnered Buccellati to finish sixth in the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
"That was very early on in my career when I was with Andrew Balding," Buick recalls.
"Andrew let me go and ride him in all those international races and obviously he (Buccellati) wasn't quite up to it but he ran well in some of them.
"The year I went to the Vase I was still very young, I wasn't that long out of losing my claim as an apprentice and I remember it was a great experience.
"I've been fortunate enough to come back on a pretty regular basis since and ridden a couple of big winners. Pakistan Star in the QEII Cup (G1, 2000m) in 2018 was really special, he had kind of a cult following in Hong Kong and I remember the atmosphere afterwards was absolutely bonkers, incredible.
"He was a complete enigma but very talented. On his best day, which I think was that day, he was an exceptional horse."
Since that initiation in 2008, the year he tied with David Probert for the apprentice title, Buick has become one of the world's top riders. His association with Godolphin stretches back to 2015 and he has been British Champion Jockey twice in the last three years (2022 & 2023).
The 36-year-old looks forward to mixing it with the cream of his contemporaries at Happy Valley once again, having drawn a blank on several previous tries.
"It's great to be asked, I've been involved before and when you look at the line-up of jockeys, it's the best of the best," he says.
"It's incredibly competitive, the nature of the track makes it even more competitive, and the opportunities are very level with it being rides in handicaps and not much between the horses.
"The draws and the ride you give your horses, that wins the races and the competition.
"I certainly think it's probably the most prestigious and competitive jockey competition that there is around."
Norwegian-born Buick arrives from a short-term stint in Japan, finishing just a whisker off an enormous win in this month's G1 Japan Cup (2400m) aboard Durezza.
His highlight this year has been Rebel's Romance, aboard whom he won the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in May at Sha Tin as well as the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf (2400m) at Del Mar.
Buick is a man with plenty of commitments but he hints that a short-term contract in Hong Kong is an itch he would like to scratch some time.
"I've been close to it but I haven't had the proper opportunity to do so," he says. "I started going to Japan maybe 10 or 12 years ago on a short-term licence.
"It's something that I haven't got round to yet but you never say never. You look at the racing, it's incredibly competitive and for me being an English-based jockey, you watch the likes of Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley, very closely. They're doing very well over there."
