Second Group 1 For Buffering

Saturday, 09 November 2013 04:12

Evergreen sprinter Buffering won his second Group 1 race today, adding the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic to the Manikato Stakes two weeks ago. For a horse which has spent a large part of its career in the shadow of horses like Black Caviar, Buffering has still collected nearly $4 million in stakes, winning 14 and placed in another 14 of 37 career starts.

Buffering

"Little Buffering has done the job and as I said to the boys earlier, there's no Black Caviar, no Hay List, no Sepoy, there's a Buffering", said winning trainer Robert Heathcote.

Heathcote not only has every confidence in his horse but also in relatively unknown rider Damian Browne who gets few opportunities to ride in Group races. Browne does most of his riding around the Queensland provincial tracks but boasts the extraordinary strike rate of 29% winners to rides.

Buffering

"He just gives us 100% every time and I had a runner in Brisbane before the race and I never even spoke to Damien about instructions because I didn't have to, he knew what he had to do and he went out and did it."

"I've made no secret that I have a huge opinion of Damien Browne, not only as a rider, but as a bloke and he's just so calm, cool and collected and prior to the race I didn't discuss riding instruction because I was happy to leave it to Damien."

Buffering & Damian Browne

While under pressure from Shamexpress in the concluding stages, Buffering won the race with superb mid-race sectionals which put pressure on his rivals to match strides.

"This horse improved again and it's just terrific for Rob and the whole bunch of guys in this horse for him to back up again this week and do it again", Browne said.

"The first furlong and a half I got through pretty quietly and as we came across the juncture I started to put a bit of pressure on and got them off the bit and as soon as I asked him for the kick he gave me a quick length and then it's just a matter of fighting them off."

Buffering

Heathcote stressed that Buffering won by being the best horse in the race.

"He put the pressure on coming to the 400m and I started to smile then."

"There were probably a few unanswered questions after the Manikato because a couple of people through he might have been lucky but there was no luck in that today, it was pure guts, determination and ability."

Heathcote has now won five Group 1 races and is eager for more. Buffering will most likely contest the Group 1 Railway Handicap in Perth during December.

"I'm still going to Perth because I've promised the boys so hopefully he'll be a nice drawcard for their carnival then he'll come home to Brisbane."

There is also the possibility of taking Buffering to Hong Kong.

"It's certainly a possibility and Hong Hong looks attractive at this stage now that he's got the couple of Group 1 wins."

Photos: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin