Timeform Ratings Expert Adam Blencowe has Bufferingon top of his 2014 BTC Cup tips and believes that the popular sprinter deserves to be an odds-on favourite to record his fourth Group 1 win at Doomben on Saturday.
Buffering is the 2014 BTC Cup tip of Racing And Sports Senior Handicapper Adam Blencowe. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Buffering is now an odds-on favourite following the scratching of Snitzerland this morning and Blencowe told RSN this morning that he believes the BTC Cup odds of the Mossman gelding will continue to shorten in the lead-up to the Group 1 event.
“It is a real shame that she has come out because I was desperate to take her on with Buffering and obviously we can’t do that now,” Blencowe said.
“I think that he will only continue to firm from his current quote and he gets his chance to win a Group 1 in Brisbane and I don’t think that anyone would begrudge him that.
“He has run some cracking races up there and just found one better and he has won two Stradbrokes at the weights, but unfortunately for connections they don’t pay out on who wins at the weights.
“This is a chance to have a big win at home and I think that he will take that chance.
“It all seems to set up pretty well for him.”
Spirit Of Boom has been one of the most consistent sprint performers in Australia over the past couple of years and has been in exceptional form this campaign; winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 21 after finishing second behind Lankan Rupee in both the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
Blencowe believes that Spirit Of Boom deserves to be a clear second favourite in 2014 BTC Cup betting markets, but does not think that the Sequalo entire can beat Buffering if the triple Group 1 winner runs anywhere close to his best.
“Spirit Of Boom is the obvious quinella horse, but he has a limit at about the 120 mark and he just can’t seem to break through it,” Blencowe said.
“He runs to it with admirable consistency, but he just can’t see to break through it and Buffering certainly can.
“I think that Buffering will win and Spirit Of Boom is a pretty good thing to run second.”
Buffering is currently available at 2014 BTC Cup odds of $1.85 and has been extremely well-backed to add another Group 1 victory to his racing resume that includes wins in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) and Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
