William Buick in Oz

If you're from Oz and aren't sure as to the merits of his talents this comparison might help.

James McDonald - Group1 class

William Buick - Handicapper

In other words...the poor lad he's there to replace is absolutely different gravy to Mr Buick.

Cheers Studious, has had 2 rides today, had lead absolutely gifted to him both times & refused to take it.
James Doyle was out here, got injured, didn't mind him as a rider at all

That's not to say Buick isn't one of our best jockeys, he is - unfortunately outside of Ryan Moore, Andrea Atzeni and Silvestre De Sousa - all we got are 'handicappers' over here @ the mo.   That's why it took James Mc less than a week to start riding them senseless off the front over here on his arrival.

The kid Oisin Murphy might get to elite level also but bar that they are all Buick class or worse.

Doesn't surprise me at all - takes some balls to get to take the lead and dictate - you're more exposed if you get it wrong from there - choosing to turn it down would sum him up nicely as a jockey really.

thanks again

Good to hear other people talk positive like you have about O.M I might of mentioned him once or twice. A.A is not in my elite group though, far too many positional errors and is weak to be called Grade A.

most of the aussie jocks are absolute fcking awful, weak as hell, james macdonald is ok but no world class jokcs in oz,one of the worst countries in the world for jockeys, south africa is better even. Just watch some of them on atr in the middle of the night, some of them are bloody awful.

i remember when the best they had craig mcdonald rode here for channon, pitiful jockey looked like a 10lb claimer

craig williams sorry

McDonald O.K... em he is one of the best out there. If you are saying he is just o.k ... I would love to know who u think is better than o.k

Pandora, I have been to UK a few times, what struck me talking to a lot of punters there is the importance they place on a jockey being strong in home straight, whats far more important is what jockey does in run getting to home straight, his timing in other words. Not much sectional times available in UK so you only have your eye to go on, whether ride was good or not, i'm talking timing wise not how strong he was in home straight. Judging ride with the eye only can be very misleading.

I will give it to R.Moore though, his Cox Plate & Melbourne Cup winning rides in 2014 were both absolutely perfect rides

Rode 2 today, 1st one from well back, 2nd one was midfield on rail to turn