Crack sprinter Buffering showed he was well on track for a breakthrough Group One win when he thrashed his rivals in Saturday’s Group Two Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
While some scribes were concerned when the usual front running galloper was headed during the early and middle stages of the race, trainer Rob Heathcote was not concerned.
“The fact that some of the media guys said he’s never won coming from behind and that was right because he never had but we were confident we had the horse right.”
“Melissa Leitch (assistant trainer) lives with Buffering and knows him better than anyone and when I was down here on Tuesday to watch his work Mel came in and said he was spot on.”
Originally Buffering was to have come into the feature sprint first up, but Heathcote decided to tackle the Moir a fortnight ago after showing great progress in trackwork.
“There were 180,000 reasons why I added that race (Moir Stakes) and it has paid off.”
“We know that Black Caviar and Hay List aren’t here and my little tough bulldog has lived in their shadow for a long time and the opportunity is there for him to put his hand up and say ‘I’m the number one sprinter in this country’ until she comes back.”
Buffering’s long term racing could be in Perth or Hong Kong but first he will be out for the Group One win at his next run.
“Perth is still very much a viable option, as is Hong Kong, but now we go onto the Manikato and he deserves a Group One.”
Buffering’s preparation for Saturday’s Group Two didn’t always go according to plan – after he reacted badly from an inoculation following his win in the Moir Stakes.
“We inoculated him for Hong Kong and he didn’t take it too well. The vet said to me, ‘your Spring might be in a bit of trouble’ and I expressed a few expletives,” Heathcote recalled.
Winning rider Hugh Bowman couldn’t help but be impressed with the performance of Buffering.
“The conditions suited with the weight-for-age and my only little query was the 1200m back to the 1000m because it’s not the usual step in distance.”
“He is a quality sprinter, he’s shown that through his career and this might be his time.”
“The pace was strong and I was going the pace I was comfortable with and Craig (Newitt, Malasun) pressed on from that and I was only too happy to come off his back and Buffering loved it,” Bowman added.
Buffering has been an incredible money spinner for connections since his purchase by leading New Zealand based bloodstock agent Paul Willetts for $22,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
From his 28 runs he’s won 11 and placed on another 11 occasions and earned an ever increasing prizemoney haul of $2,096,900.
A Racetree graduate, Buffering is by Success Express’ Group One winning son Mossman and is one of four winners for the 100 per cent winner producer Action Annie.
A Sydney winning daughter of Anabaa, Action Annie is a half sister to the international stakes performers Don’t Go Crazy and Instant Strike.
Winner: Buffering
Breeding: Mossman-Action Annie (Anabaa)
Race: MRC Schillaci Stakes G2 (1000m)
Sold for: $22,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale
Vendor: Racetree
Buyer: Paul Willetts
Earnings: $2,096,900
Owner(s): Mrs V Heathcote, S Krslovic, C Moore, R Ciobo, S Chipperfield, C Lord, Crafty Racing Syndicate, Aspariamo Racing Syndicate & B Harry
Trainer: Robert Heathcote (Eagle Farm)
