Popular sprinter Buffering has made history by becoming the first horse to gallop on the new Eagle Farm track, in his final piece of track work before he heads to Dubai on Monday.
Buffering worked strongly at Eagle Farm this morning ahead of his trip to Dubai for the Al Quoz Sprint. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Buffering worked alongside stablemate Dream Of Slips from the 800 metre mark on the Eagle Farm course proper and he had too much speed for his stablemate when he was ask to quicken by jockey Damian Browne at the 800 metre mark.
Trainer Robert Heathcote was pleased with the performance of Buffering and he told horseracing.com.au that his star galloper was exactly where he wanted him to be ahead of his trip to Dubai on Monday for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) at Meydan on March 26.
“I am very happy,” Heathcote said.
“I ran a blood pitcher on the horse yesterday and he was spot-on.
“In fact, my vet said to me just prior to this hit out that he doesn’t need too much because he is just about where you need him.
“That is how we planned it.
“Monday he flies off to Dubai, so he has time.
“That will be his last good hit out before he sees the Meydan straight.”
Eagle Farm has been closed for 20 months, but the track is on track to host its first meeting for almost two years on Wednesday May 11 before races like the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) are held at the track after they were contested at Doomben last year.
Buffering and Dream Of Slips both kicked back plenty of turf on the Eagle Farm course proper, but Browne was brimming in praise for the new surface and is looking forward to the racing return of the venue.
“He gave me a great feel,” Browne said of Buffering.
“The track feels amazing – after the amount of rain he really got through it well
“They hardly even marked it really and he was able to really stretch out on it and appreciated it.
“I am looking forward to getting back here and riding on it.
“It was just like running on a mattress, more or less.
“It is a great style of grass with a bit of cushion there and they were really able to stride out.
“We are in for some times ahead.
“They got through it really strongly.”
The 2016 Al Quoz Sprint field will be released tomorrow, but Buffering is set to take on the likes of Peniaphobia, Not Listenin’tome, Sole Power, Ertijaal, Muthmir and Goldream.
