Jockey Jye McNeil is set to team up again with Cox Plate placegetter Buckaroo for the gelding’s initial appearance in his autumn preparation at Caulfield.

Buckaroo is returning to action in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield this Saturday, with McNeil taking the ride.

McNeil has partnered Buckaroo on only one occasion during the gelding’s 31 race career, which was in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes over the same track and distance last spring.

The gelding came up with a strong third placing behind Treasurethe Moment and Mr Brightside in that race, then achieved further placings in the Underwood Stakes, the Might And Power and Cox Plate – all at Group 1 standard – prior to finishing last in the Melbourne Cup.

Across those four starts after the Memsie Stakes, Buckaroo was handled by four separate jockeys – Blake Shinn, James McDonald, Mark Zahra and Craig Williams.

The gelding completed two trials up in Sydney ahead of this comeback and made a trip to Caulfield on Tuesday morning with McNeil aboard.

“Last campaign I rode him first-up in the Memsie over the same distance and he surprised a few people by running really well,” McNeil said.

“He was third behind Treasurethe Moment and Mr Brightside, and if he can put a run together like that, I think the team would be very happy.

“He seems fantastic in the work he did. I didn’t work him going into last campaign, but he seems very well.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be partnering him but I’m looking forward to the opportunity on Saturday.”

McNeil indicated Buckaroo should cope well with any potential track improvement on Saturday from the Good 4 rating expected at the start of proceedings.

“The track was on the firmer side on Tuesday morning, but we didn’t do too much, just held him together, and he felt fine,” McNeil said.

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