Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation has recruited William Buick and James Doyle to ride as joint No.1 jockeys.

Buick will be first jockey to Charlie Appleby and Doyle will be retained as first choice for Saeed bin Suroor.

Buick leaves his long-standing position as stable rider for John Gosden, while Doyle moves at the end of his deal as retained rider to owner Khalid Abdullah.

In a move announced on the Godolphin website, the new contracts will not come into effect until both jockeys have fulfilled all contractual obligations to their present employers.

The jockeys will interlink with each yard and form crossover cover when commitments allow. They will ride Godolphin horses in the UK trained by Gosden and other trainers.

Horses that have raced for Gosden in the colours of Princess Haya of Jordan will now be in the royal blue of Godolphin "as an extension of the global branding of the organisation".

Both jockeys will also ride horses for Godolphin that are stabled in Ireland, France, America, Australia and Japan when required.

Their first contractual role will be to ride for their respective trainers throughout the Dubai Carnival in early 2015.

Mickael Barzalona will continue to ride for Godolphin in France, but Silvestre de Sousa - who started the year winning the Dubai World Cup on the Bin Suroor-trained African Story - has not had his contract renewed.

"Sheikh Mohammed has always respected both William and James and when their availability was confirmed at the end of this season he was keen to secure their services for the future," John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor said.

"I think this is yet another clear indication of Godolphin's continued pursuit of excellence in both horses and humans."