Star Queensland sprinter Buffering has come back so well from a tough winter campaign that trainer Robert Heathcote has elected to catapult him into spring two weeks ahead of schedule in next Friday’s Group 2 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Buffering will begin his spring campaign two weeks early in the Moir Stakes. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Heathcote had originally pencilled in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) on October 13 as the spring starting point for the five-year-old but said his forward condition made the early kickoff a logical option.

“It was never really part of my calculations after the tough runs in the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke but the little horse has just come back so well,” Heathcote said.

“He’s like a ticking time bomb and was about a fortnight ahead of schedule so it just makes sense.

“It’s a weight-for-age race, he’ll be stabled five minutes up the road at Flemington and he’s ready to go.”

Buffering will then continue with the original schedule of the Schillaci on October 13 followed by the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on October 26 and the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on November 10.

The son of Mossman will fly to Melbourne on Tuesday with stablemates Solzhenitsyn and Excellantes who are both having their first trip to the Victorian capital.

Solzhenitzyn began his spring campaign in Brisbane earlier this month with an eye-catching win over former Doncaster placegetter Bold Glance and will start in Sunday week’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

“It’s obviously a big step up from a Brisbane handicap to a Group 1 but his form has shown he’s earned the trip and I think he is a horse that can take that next step,” Heathcote said.

“He was outstanding during the winter and he’s won four in a row now.”

Excellantes will begin his campaign in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) on October 6.