William Buick is counting on lessons learned three years ago to hold him in good stead in the Melbourne Cup.

Buick rides the John Gosden-trained Gatewood in Tuesday’s race and is on his first trip back to Flemington since finishing sixth on Lost In The Moment in the 2011 Cup.

The UK based rider said the Melbourne Cup was a fantastic experience, but said it was also unique.

“The rhythm of the race is different to what we are used to in Europe,” Buick said.

“Coming back for a second time helps because you’ve done it before.”

“One thing my horse wants is an uninterrupted run but it’s hard to make any plans from any draw in the Melbourne Cup because things can change quickly.”

Gosden makes his first appearance at the Cup despite having Gatewood in Australia two years ago.

The entire won the Geelong Cup but failed to beat the ballot for the 2012 Melbourne Cup.

Gosden was impressed with Saturday’s Victoria Derby meeting and his friends in the US were surprised he was not attending the Breeders’ at Santa Anita.

“I’m with the future not the past which didn’t go down very well with the Americans,” he said.

Of concern for Gosden is Gatewood’s barrier 22 in the 24-horse field.

The trainer said he would walk the track, study past runnings of the Melbourne Cup and look at where the pace might be, but at the end of the day leave how the horse is ridden to Buick.

“Here is more a French style of racing where you collect the horses and make a surging finish but at the same time it’s a track that takes no prisoners,” Gosden said.

Gatewood, according to Gosden, didn’t appreciate the back-up style of training when with Chris Waller following his first trip to Australia and had relished having his races spaced since returning to Europe.