Buick slated for Maktoum Challenge return

Dubai: Jockey William Buick is hoping to pass a concussion test in England before he returns to action for the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on February 3.

The 22-year-old English rider escaped serious injury after being knocked unconscious in the second of two falls he took at Meydan Racecourse on December 30. He was detained overnight at Rashid Hospital for tests before being released two days later.

"I'm planning to ride at the Carnival next month provided I pass a concussion test back home in England," Buick said. "I'm hoping to do that in 10 days time to see if I'm 100 per cent fit. It's a protocol thing that you do in England if you've taken a tumble, and that's what I aim to do."

Symptom free

According to British Horseracing Authority (BHA) rules a jockey should only take the test when he is completely symptom free and Buick points out that he is close to making a full recovery.

"I feel good, it's just the concussion," he said. "It takes time to heal and there's nothing you can do about it, except get a good rest. And that's what I have been doing."

Buick, one of the rising stars of the turf who is stable jockey to Dhruba Selvaratnam's Jebel Ali Stables, has even refrained from riding out in the morning since the Meydan episode.

The incident happened when his horse, Foolin Myself, fell in spectacular fashion at the home turn, hurling Buick to the ground. Having briefly lost consciousness he was rushed to Rashid Hospital's trauma centre where he underwent scans and x-rays which, however, revealed that he had sustained no serious injury.

Buick said he is in good spirits and looking forward to riding again.

"Falls are part of a jockey's life. You know it's going to happen. But you just hope that it doesn't happen too often," he said.

"What happened that night is out of my mind now, it's finished as far as I'm concerned. The important thing is to think forward.

"I'm just looking to get back to work after the concussion test, and riding some winners," he added.

"Dhruba's horses are in good form and I'm hoping to pick up the pieces and have a good season."

Successful run

A former champion apprentice in the UK Buick took over from Jimmy Fortune as stable jockey to the powerful John Gosden yard in January last year. He repaid the faith the trainer had in him by winning the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night in March with Dar Re Mi before going on to land his first Classic success aboard Arctic Cosmos in the St. Leger at Doncaster, England in September.

Prior to the Meydan fall Buick had ridden five winners for Selvaratnam this season.