Trainer Robert Heathcote is confident that star sprinter Buffering will be a leading contender in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27, if he replicates the form that he showed in a jump-out at Doomben this morning.
Buffering will have the chance to break his Group 1 drought when he contests the Moir Stakes first-up at Moonee Valley. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Heathcote told Racing Ahead that Buffering won his jump-out over roughly 850 metres by an amazing ten lengths and the time that he ran was significantly quicker than all the other horses that took part in jump-outs at the track this morning.
“He was impressive this morning,” Heathcote said.
“He was out there to have a good hit-out.
“He had a trial last week and was a little bit soft and pulled up having a bit of a blow.
“This morning he won by about ten and there was some other good horses in there I believe.
“He ran time – he was about four seconds quicker than the other two heats.”
Buffering will begin his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m), a race that he won last year before it was upgraded to Group 1 status.
The Mossman gelding has been victorious in six of his seven first-up appearances and Heathcote said he is following a very clear plan so that the six-year-old is ready to fire first-up and has the best possible chance to record his maiden Group 1 victory.
“It is pretty much a repeat of what we did leading up to our last carnival here in Brisbane,” the premiership winning trainer said.
“I have got seventeen days now and that has been my plan – to give him a good hit out so I can back off for ten days.
“I may give him an exhibition gallop before he comes down but we will do what we have done in recent years and fly down on the Tuesday, get to Flemington on Wednesday morning and take it nice and easy before the race on Friday night.
“It is fair to say that he is deserving of winning a Group 1.
“He is becoming a very popular horse because whist he has never won a Group 1 he always gives you a 150% and a few unusual circumstances have gone against him like that freak run of Linton.”
Buffering will be given plenty of chances to breakthrough at Group 1 level this campaign with the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 9 and the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on November 23 also on his spring agenda.
