Jet-setting jockey William Buick has ridden two winners of the Melbourne Cup, but not on the day they were successful.
Buick is about to embark on his sixth ride in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday and has labelled Irish galloper Vauban his best chance of winning the race.
Vauban is the $7 equal favourite in Melbourne Cup odds, sharing the top line with Buckaroo.
Buick partnered Cross Counter the year after the Charlie Appleby-trained then three-year-old won the Cup in 2018 while he partnered last year’s Cup winner Without A Fight when 13th in 2022.
On a high having scored in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Sunday (Australian time), Buick flew into Melbourne on Monday morning.
“I’ve had good rides in the race, but they haven’t materialised whereas I think Vauban is the classiest horse I’ve ridden in the Cup so far,” Buick said.
Buick loves coming back to Melbourne for the Cup, adding the race is one that he would dearly love to win.
He said Vauban, for whatever reason when ridden by Ryan Moore last year, did not run to his true form, but believes he is the class runner of this year’s field.
“He’s a high-class horse,” Buick said.
“They knew, and everyone involved with the horse knew, that he is better than the running he gave and when he came into the Cup last year, he had a fair level of form.
“This year, he’s stepped up again. He’s carrying the weight for it, but his form is rock-solid in the UK and Ireland and the two miles is his optimum trip.”
Buick has ridden Vauban in three of his five starts this year and believes the stayer is the right horse to finally give him that Melbourne Cup victory.
“I think it’s his pace, his adaptability,” Buick said.
“He reacts to different circumstances and scenarios which is what you need in a race like the Cup.
“He has that tactical speed to get a position, he relaxes and has that finishing kick over two miles.
“I’ve never won the Melbourne Cup, but in my experience that ticks a lot of boxes.”
While Buick has been impressed by the wins of Onesmoothoperator and Sea King in the Geelong Cup and Bendigo Cup respectively since their arrival in Australia, he believes Vauban would have them covered if the race was in the UK or Ireland.
“He’s competed against the best stayers we have,” Buick said of Vauban.
“But Onesmoothoperator and Sea King are coming off good wins over here leading up to the Cup.
“I have huge respect for them, but Vauban has the best form.”
