Sorcerer's apprentice Buick looking to follow in Dettori's hallowed steps

Forty later this year, the charismatic Italian knows he must make the most of his remaining opportunities in the Classics. "Having five kids at private school is not cheap," bemoaned Dettori at Doncaster this week.

The most popular – and publicly recognisable – rider in racing, the former champion is also a realist. He knows that the jockey most likely to deny him a sixth Ladbrokes St Leger (he rides the hot favourite Rewilding) is 22-year-old Buick – the weighing room's young pretender who rides the progressive Arctic Cosmos after a confidence-boosting win in yesterday's Doncaster Cup aboard Samuel.

Yet, while Dettori's flying dismounts lifted the profile of a sport that was dominated for so long by the incomparable Lester Piggott's granite-liked impressions after every big race success, including a mere eight St Legers, fresh-faced Buick is the antithesis to both.

He is a quiet young professional slightly embarrassed by the attention that he has been attracting – both from the racing world and his female admirers – after recording four Group One triumphs in four different countries in the past year.

With headline-making successes in Canada, Dubai, America and France, it is only a question of time before the shy Buick lands one of Britain's premier races and Arctic Cosmos is his best chance yet.

An eyecatching third at Glorious Goodwood, Buick believes John Gosden's colt was not suited by the Sussex track's unique undulations – and that Doncaster's configuration should benefit this large horse whose physique is suited to relentless galloping.

"He didn't handle the track but, looking back, it was a very good trial," Buick told the Yorkshire Post. "Doncaster is a very fair track – one of the fairest around – and the long straight suits galloping sorts.

"He's got a good chance; I'd certainly say he's my best chance of a Classic winner yet and that's my next objective."

The fact that the fast-finishing Arctic Cosmos was rapidly closing down the Gordon Stakes second Dandino, another of today's rivals, also gives Buick grounds for optimism. Trailing both were Corsica and Theology, two outsiders for today's feature.

If Arctic Cosmos wins, it will be a remarkable rise to prominence for a horse who was an unmeritorious fourth last October at Redcar – his second racecourse outing. "He's a late maturer," explains Buick.

His trainer concurs. Gosden, who has won the St Leger with a Dettori-inspired Shantou in 1996 and the Jimmy Fortune-ridden Lucarno two years ago, believes his 'gentle giant' has the profile to match these two former winners.

This is in spite of some of the three-year-old's best form being on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and Kempton before Buick rode him to second place in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"The end of this year and next year will be important for him," says Gosden.

It's also this long-term approach that prompted Gosden to dispense with Fortune's services last winter, despite his St Leger success, and hire Buick, racing's rising star, as his stable jockey. The trainer views the association, which surprised many, as a long-term investment.

Both are already bringing the best out of each other, however, Buick's enthusiasm and willingness to learn dovetailing perfectly with Gosden's experience.

It was helped that the rookie rider's first mount for his new boss was a winning one this spring aboard the recently retired Dar Re Mi in the Dubai Sheema Classic, one of the world's richest races.

Buick believes this was more accomplished than Lahaleeb's victory in Canada last autumn, or his "dream" 15 hours last month when he won the Arlington Million in Chicago aboard Debussy before catching the red-eye flight to France to win the prestigious Prix Morny, a key 2000 Guineas trial, aboard Dream Ahead.

The jockey, who is sponsored by equine insurers Markel, says of his win on Dar Re Mi: "It always helps to make an impression with your new job, but I didn't feel under pressure."

Buick is non-plussed when it is put to him that the filly, owned by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber and his wife Madeleine, would not have won without his "nerveless" ride up the far rail that earned plaudits from, among others, Dettori.

This is rapidly becoming the rider's hallmark – late bursts timed to perfection by a jockey whose near-perfect balance in the saddle gets the best out of the thoroughbreds under him.

Buick puts it down to "experience". He says this is reflected by how he has dramatically cut down his number of whip infringements which meant that he was invariably suspended. "I'm learning," he explains.

Yet, while this naturally talented rider is more reserved than the crowd-pleasing Dettori when celebrating his big race triumphs, he is quick to observe how the former champion jockey conducts himself.

In his younger days, when he was still fresh-faced with energy and enthusiasm, the Italian went flat out for the jockeys' championship – winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995, and then regaining his crown in 2004.

It came at a price. He later admitted that he used to take diuretic drugs to keep his weight down before they were banned. "It's definitely a chore. You ride lame, sick, bad horses – anything. You have next to no time for your family."

Buick and his handlers have learned from this. His highly-respected agent Simon Dodds did not book any rides for his client on Monday so he could have a day off and prepare himself, mentally, for today's

St Leger test.

It is a strategy that is paying off says the rider who passed through Northern Racing College, located a couple of furlongs from Doncaster's hallowed winning post, as a teenager before being allowed to race in public.

"I'm on a retainer with John Gosden," says Buick who believes Nathaniel, narrowly beaten on Thursday, is just one of many horses with huge potential. "It is a brilliant opportunity – one that I could only have dreamed about a few years ago. I want to be 100 per cent on the big days, I've learned this from Frankie, and I don't want to let anyone down. It's the big races that matter.

"Don't get me wrong. I'd like to be champion one day – but only when I've got a genuine shout at it. Don't forget Frankie's done it, a few years back, but it took a lot out of him. There's no point tiring you out in one season and ruining the rest of your career."

Buick's father Walter was a champion jockey in Scandinavia and he recalls, with fondness, a visit by Piggott. "I was in awe of him."

Yet, while Piggott is a legend against whom Buick will never race, he describes Dettori, his friend and rival, in equally glowing terms.

"A legend. What other word is there for Frankie? He's been brilliant, telling me to keep my head down, do the right things and go about my job. I've learned so much from him."

Take Wednesday and the seven-furlong maiden that opened the St Leger meeting. Dettori was on Godolphin's first string My Freedom while Buick was an eyecatching booking in the famous royal blue colours aboard Bowermaster.

They walked to the paddock together. Both were in demand for autographs. Dettori needed no introduction.

"That rider will be champion," a father told his son, pointing to Buick.

Their differing personalities shone through in the parade ring, Dettori laughing while Buick exuded quiet professionalism and politeness.

Neither won. But, while Dettori conducted a time-consuming interview for a national newspaper immediately afterwards, Buick spent five minutes on the phone talking to Bowermaster's connections.

Every word was carefully chosen as he advised them of future prospects, temperament and going.

His mobile phone is a vital tool when he is not on horseback. "Feedback is important," says Buick. "The owners and trainers expect it, quite rightly."

As racing's ambassador, Dettori knows that his primary role is to promote today's spectacle. Second last year when the Godolphin second-string Mastery prevailed, he is on a revenge mission. "These youngsters, they've still got to beat me. I've got school fees to pay," he laughs.

And Buick knows it. For, if he is to win his first Classic, he knows his toughest opponent will be his "legendary" friend and rival who has shown him how to be a winner.

"One day," adds Buick. "Hopefully today."