Leading Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote is confident that tough sprinter Buffering is spot on heading into the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Buffering is chasing back-to-back wins in the Moir Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Buffering has not been seen at the races since he finished an unlucky second behind Linton in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in June and according to Heathcote has progressed nicely after returning from a five week stint in the spelling paddock.
The Mossman gelding has recorded six wins from seven first-up starts, with his only defeat coming at the hands of equine superstar Black Caviar, and Heathcote told RSN this morning that he has done everything possible to make sure the six-year-old can maintain that stellar record and win his first Group 1 victory tomorrow night.
“He has a super little first-up record but I guess you could say that for four or five of them lining up tomorrow night,” Heathcote said.
“He had a good break and had five weeks off, which has given me ten weeks to have him ready for tomorrow night’s assignment.
“I kicked him off with a nice soft barrier trial, and he won that with plenty in hand, and I followed that with a pretty solid jump out.
“He ran super time and the horse that was six or seven lengths behind him was Spirit of Boom who franked the form with a solid run in Sydney last weekend.
“He won this race last year when it was a Group 2 and obviously Group 1 is much tougher.
“I am going into the race with an air of confidence that I have my horse spot on.”
The Queensland-based sprinter will be returning to Moonee Valley for the first time since he finished sixth in the Group 1 2012 Manikato Stakes (1200m), after missing the start, and has generally had a good record at the tight-turning circuit, especially first-up.
Buffering ($4.40) is currently on the second line of betting for the Moir Stakes; with the explosive Bel Sprinter ($4) backed into favouritism from classy mare Snitzerland ($4.60) overnight.
