Connections of Hong Kong’s mercurial Group One winner Pakistan Star have contacted William Buick in the hope that he can revive his fortunes for a second time next month.
Godolphin’s main rider has enjoyed a stellar international campaign for Charlie Appleby and struck up an instant rapport with Tony Cruz’s brilliant but wayward gelding when landing the QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April.
Pakistan Star and William Buick run away with the QEII Cup at Sha Tin in April
Buick added another hugely valuable feather to his cap with a first Japanese G1 success aboard Stelvio in the Mile Championship at Kyoto on Sunday and the Cruz team have moved swiftly to try and secure his services after Pakistan Star ran his second poor race in a row for Karis Teetan when fading tamely (along with star stablemate Time Warp) in a fiercely-run Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin on the same afternoon.
Pakistan Star and Time Warp looked none the worse for that bruising experience when exercising at Sha Tin this morning and Cruz confirmed that plans are in place to bring Buick back to Hong Kong for an intended tilt at the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase on December 9.
“Pakistan Star pulled up ok from his run on Sunday,” said Cruz. “We are trying to confirm with William, but that is the way it is heading at the moment.”
International entries for four HKIR G1 contests worth a combined total of around £9m – namely the Sprint, the Mile, the Cup and the Vase – are expected to be confirmed on Wednesday.
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