William Buick steps in to ride Godolphin hopes in Australia

William Buick will replace the injured James Doyle riding for Godolphin in Australia this weekend.With Doyle on the sidelines for longer than originally anticipated following a fall last month, Buick has received the call to ride principally for John O'Shea.Buick will not only ride this weekend but also at the Golden Slipper meeting before returning to Dubai for World Cup night on March 25."It is one of the great privileges that goes with the job I have at Godolphin," Buick told www.godolphin.com."Godolphin is an international stable, with runners in many of the best races worldwide."It is an honour to be asked to go to Australia to ride for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, especially in a race such as the Golden Slipper."I feel sorry for James, who is still recovering from his fall. But I will be doing my best to ride winners while I am there."I am relying entirely on John O'Shea to pick the horses I ride, and where I will ride them," he added.Buick's rides are likely to include either Veranillo or Trekking in the Golden Slipper, Hauraki in the George Ryder Stakes and Hartnell in the Ranvet Stakes."It is such an important day for us and we have some really good Group One chances. It is good to have the confidence that we have with William on them," said O'Shea.Doyle, who fractured his hand in his fall at Randwick, is also suffering with a knee problem and is likely to be out until April."It's a big disappointment not to be riding at the Golden Slipper meeting, but the stable has several good prospects later in the autumn which I am aiming to be back for," said Doyle."Unfortunately, the knee injury flared up and I'll be seeing a specialist in Sydney after I get back this week."I am aiming for a return to racing in the lead up to day one of The Championships."