Buick left with plenty of work to do on his return to Dubai

Not long after the announcement the rising star was to become stable rider to the powerful John Gosden yard, Buick made his first Group One ride a winning one on board Dar Re Mi in the Sheema Classic at Meydan.

He went on to take the Doncaster Classic for Gosden on Arctic Cosmos and a handful of other top races in the season before returning to Dubai for the winter.

Unfortunately for Buick, he suffered two falls on one night at Meydan in late December and missed the early part of the Carnival.

Utley, who was campaigned ambitiously by Gosden at two, is his mount in the UAE Derby.

The Yarmouth maiden winner was fifth to Richard Fahey’s 2000 Guineas contender Wootton Bassett in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

“It was a dream start to last year,” recalled Buick. “Everyone knows how good a trainer Mr Gosden is, and we’re hoping we can go on again this year.

“Utley ran a good race in the US, but things didn’t quite fall his way. It’s an open race and I could have done with a better draw than 12 of 14, but those are the cards you’re dealt.”

World Cup second-favourite Cape Blanco emerged for the first time at Meydan yesterday morning.

Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore operation have not supported the meeting since 2005 but the sale of the majority of last year’s Irish Derby and Champion Stakes winner to Dr Jim Hay has seen an important change of direction.

O’Brien will not arrive until raceday and Cape Blanco had been in quarantine until he stepped onto the course under his big-race rider Jamie Spencer.

The chestnut son of Galileo looked a little sweaty as he emerged but after completing the circuit Spencer said: “I’m pleased with the draw (four) – it’s where I’d want to be.”