William Buick has been named among the 12 jockeys announced in the line-up for the Meydan Masters Challenge that opens the Dubai World Cup Carnival on January 5.
The 23-year-old Briton, who will ride for Dhruba Selvaratnam during the Carnival, will touch down in the region only two days before the contest is staged at Meydan Racecourse. He failed to partner a winner in last year's jockey challenge, won by Calvin Borel.
Buick's experience in previous contests should, however, put him in good stead against his rival jockeys, who boast 50 Group 1 wins among them.
Buick said the jockey challenges are "fantastic incentives" and added: "It is good of the Dubai Racing Club to put the horses on. To participate at a top track like Meydan is all the better."
Buick will be joined by Ryan Moore, Britain's three-time champion jockey, Colm O'Donoghue, who rides for Aidan O'Brien in Ireland; and Tom Queally, who has been setting Europe alight with his rides on Frankel.
France will have three representatives: Maxime Guyon, Christophe Lemaire and Mickael Barzalona. Frankie Dettori and Mirco Demuro, who won this year's Dubai World Cup aboard Victoire Pisa, will also participate.
The field is completed by Kenichi Ikezoe, who partnered Orfevre to Japan's Triple Crown, Australia's Craig Williams and Andrasch Starke, the German who won this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Danedream.
Points are accumulated based on the riders' finishes in a race, and the winner is determined by the highest points total secured in those races.
"To have such illustrious names competing in the Meydan Masters further advances horse racing in Dubai on the world's stage," said Saeed Al Tayer, the Meydan chairman.