Buffering careers away for easy Eagle Farm win

Winter Carnival aspirant Buffering showed that a tough Melbourne campaign hadn’t taken the edge off of him after careering away for the easiest of wins at Eagle Farm today.

Premiership trainer Robert Heathcote gave Buffering a short ease up after finishing third to Foxwedge in the Group 1 $400,000 Power Tracker William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 23 and will now aim him towards Doomben in ten days.

Buffering, with Jim Byrne riding for the first time, began quickly from an inside barrier and was able to hold out speedster Adebisi in the early stages and career away in the straight to win by seven lengths from Scenic Blast to take out the rescheduled WFA Coca-Cola Amatil (1200m).

Racing Queensland Limited were quick to add this $100,000 race to today’s program after the Group 2 $175,000 Coca-Cola Amatil Victory Stakes (1200m) was lost when Eagle Farm was abandoned after heavy rain in Brisbane on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Byrne was never ever under any pressure and the speed battle that was expected with Adebisi never eventuated with Buffering always in control of the race.

Chris Munce had Adebisi at Buffering’s girth coming to the home turn but had to call it a day and Shane Scriven on Scenic Blast attempted to put pressure on Buffering, but in a twinkling the four year old accelerated and put the contest beyond doubt.

Buffering started the short priced favourite at $1.35 and showed his class and liking for the wet track, running 1.10.69 for the 1200m on a heavy 8 and will now be ready to tackle the Group 1 $400,000 Smirnoff BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 12.

Heathcote believes the Mossman gelding is due to win a Group 1 after coming close in Melbourne in The Autumn and now he gets a real chance at Doomben in the absence at Black Caviar and Hay List who he chased home in the Lightning Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

Munce  eased down second favourite Adebisi in the run to the line indicating that something was amiss and this could spell the end of the Winter Carnival for the Desleigh Forster trained gelding.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.