Jye McNeil gets back with Buckaroo, the Cox Plate placings horse, for the start of the gelding’s autumn stint at Caulfield.

Buckaroo’s comeback comes in Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, where McNeil will ride.

McNeil’s previous and only ride on the gelding across 31 outings was the Group 1 Memsie Stakes last spring, matching the course and distance for this weekend.

Buckaroo shocked some by taking third to Treasurethe Moment and Mr Brightside there, before more placing finishes in the Underwood Stakes, Might And Power and Cox Plate – Group 1 events each – wrapping up with last place in the Melbourne Cup.

In the four races after that Memsie Stakes effort, jockey duties went to Blake Shinn, James McDonald, Mark Zahra and Craig Williams.

The preparation included two trials at Sydney for Buckaroo, plus a Tuesday visit to Caulfield ridden by McNeil.

“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 believes a track shift upward from Good 4 on Saturday poses no issue for Buckaroo.

“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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