Early end to William Buick's stay in Japan after picking up 16-day ban

Japanese stewards have brought William Buick's stop-start 2019 to a premature end after handing the jockey a 16-day ban following a riding incident at Hanshin on Sunday.

Buick began a short-term JRA contract in mid-November which would have expired on December 23, the day after he was due to ride Rey De Oro in the final Grade 1 of the Japanese season, the Arima Kinen at Nakayama.

Riding Agulhas in race ten at Hanshin, Buick went for a run up the rail and was adjudged to have "tightened up" San Ramon Valley, who Christophe Soumillon appeared to snatch up before easing him heavily inside the final furlong.

Climb Major and Ryan Moore also suffered interference as a result of the incident.

Among the highlights of William Buick's season has been his association with the brilliant PinatuboCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Buick has enjoyed a successful spell in Japan, the highlight of his 12 winners coming when outpointing Oisin Murphy to land the Grade 2 Stayers Stakes on Mondo Intero last month.

More broadly he has been on a racing rollercoaster this year, partnering champion two-year-old Pinatubo to impressive victories in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, having earlier been forced to miss the heart of the European season due to a serious head injury.

Buick's ban runs from December 21 to January 5 and will be served in time for him to resume normal duties for Godolphin in Dubai.

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