All five horses have a chance, says Buick

William Buick celebrates after winning on Old Persian at the Royal Ascot. (Reuters)

Dubai World Cup-winning jockey William Buick reckoned that all his rides have a good chance of landing the spoils on Dubai World Cup night.
Buick, who won the Dubai World Cup on Prince Bishop with Emirati handler Saeed bin Suroor in 2015, has five rides in the 24th renewal of the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night.
Buick begins the night with Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup before moving on to Blue Point, champion in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint. He then partners Divine Image in the Group 2 UAE Derby and then races Wootton in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.
Buick will wrap up his evening with Old Persian in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
"I don't want to single out any of them," Buick said on Thursday morning, when asked if he could pick one horse who looks a sure shot to win.
"I've got five rides on the night and all five are great to ride. We are starting with Cross Counter in the Dubai Gold Cup and he's the Melbourne Cup winner, of course, and he had some very good form in the UK as well. He's a horse who is on the up. Then, there is Divine Image in the UAE Derby and Blue Point, Wootton and Old Persian, all have great chances on the night," he added.
Buick said that challenge will come from Almond Eye in the $6 million Dubai Turf. The four-year-old filly, after finishing second on debut in 2017, is undefeated, winning six races in a row, including the prestigious Japan Cup.
Buick saw her from close quarters, with him finishing ninth in that race onboard Satono Crown.
And Buick said she is one of the star attractions on the night.
"She's a very special filly and in many ways, she's the star attraction of the night. And obviously, beating her in the Dubai Turf is going to be a hard thing to do. She's fast, she stays and what she showed in Japan is very versatile and obviously a top class filly," Buick said.
Buick, who now rides for Charlie Appleby, was delighted for his countryman and his Godolphin team after they won the prestigious Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter.
"I didn't race in Melbourne but it was a great achievement from Charlie and the whole team. It was a very special day," said Buick.
Cross Counter was the ride of Kerrin McEvoy at the Melbourne Cup.
james@khaleejtimes.com