William Buick delighted to pick up sparkling spare on Crystal Ocean in Saturday’s King George at Ascot
The jockey will warm up for Saturday with a gallops spin on Crystal Ocean in Newmarket
WITH Ryan Moore required by Ballydoyle, the ride on antepost favourite Crystal Ocean was up in the air ahead of Saturday's King George.
But Sir Michael Stoute has called on the services of William Buick to ride the Hardwicke Stakes winner, with the Godolphin rider not needed in the Royal Blue silks.
Buick is looking forward to continuing what has been a season to savour already, after a Derby win on Masar, a King's Stand triumph with Blue Point and another Ascot winner on Aljazzi.
The 30-year-old will warm up for Saturday's mile-and-a-half feature with a spin on the son of Sea The Stars on the Newmarket gallops first thing on Tuesday.
Buick won the race in 2011 on John Gosden's Nathaniel and is looking forward to another shot at the big race on Saturday.
He said: "It's a great spare ride to pick up. He is a lovely horse, with a very nice profile.
"It was something that was spoken about last week. It is nice to get the call-up for the King George on a horse like this.
"I'm riding him tomorrow morning on the gallops."
He added: "He certainly looks to be very tough and genuine and an uncomplicated horse that gallops along very well in his races.
"It's been a good season so far, but I've just got to keep going the next day and the next day after that. There is plenty of the season left and some nice horses still to ride.
"The King George is obviously a great race and is a midsummer highlight and it is nice to be included on a nice horse like Crystal Ocean. "
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Crystal Ocean remains the antepost favourite at 2-1, with stablemate Poet's Word close behind at 5-2.
Poet's Word will be partnered by James Doyle after he tasted Group 1 glory with Sea Of Class at the Curragh.
The remaining runners and riders can be found here as well as all the latest odds for Saturday's feature.