Queensland’s number one sprinter Buffering became the nation’s top sprinter by winning back to back Group 1 wins with an all the way win in the $1m VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington today.

Buffering leads all of the way to win the VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

With champion mare Black Caviar and mighty sprinter Hay List off the scene, Buffering ($11) has claimed the mantle as the fastest sprinter in the land by beating the Newmarket Handicap quinella of Shamexpress ($18) and Moment Of Change ($9) down the Flemington straight.

It took Buffering eighteen goes to win his first Group 1 in the $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley two weeks ago after many placings behind Black Caviar and Hay List at Group 1 level.

“There’s no Black Caviar around, theirs is no Hay List, there is no Sepoy, there’s Buffering now,” a delighted trainer Robert Heathcote said.

“I never even spoke to Damien before the race. He knew what he had to do and went out and did it. Put the pressure on at the 400m.”

Winning jockey Damien Browne has a great association with Buffering and knew exactly how to ride the Mossman gelding down the straight course.

From one alley, Brown had Buffering quickly into stride and took up the lead steering towards the middle of the track.

At the 400m favourite Lucky Nine ($3.40) attempted to put the pressure on the leader but failed to make any impact with Buffering holding his lead right to the line.

Lucky Nine, Hong Kong’s leading sprinter, was beaten almost four and a half lengths into sixth spot and again showed his dislike to the straight course after failing in a Group 1 down the 1000m Sha Tin straight.

Newmarket winner Shamexpress left his run too late and even though he was making up plenty of ground coming from the tail of the field, never looked like pegging back Buffering and was beaten three quarters of a length.

Moment Of Change ran another honest race to finish third.