A hot line up of sprinters will be given a winter carnival warm up at Doomben on Saturday in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m).
Buffering heads a strong Doomben line up this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Spearheading the group is Queensland’s number one sprinter Buffering who will be stepping out for the first time since finishing a disappointing eighth in the Patinack Farm Classic last spring.
Trainer Robert Heathcote has said the five-year-old wasn’t at his best during the spring but he still managed to pick up Group 2 wins in the Moir Stakes and Schillaci Stakes.
Buffering will defend his title in the Victory after taking out the race in 2011. The race was abandoned due to a rain-affected track last year but the Mossman gelding won replacement race the Coca-Amatil Weight-for-age.
It is expected Queensland’s reigning horse the year will head down the traditional Queensland sprint path of the BTC Cup, Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap where he is likely to be joined by Tony Gollan’s sprint pair Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom.
Temple Of Boom has a Group 1 win to his name courtesy of last year’s Galaxy but has been outshone by younger brother Spirit Of Boom in recent times.
Five-year-old entire Spirit Of Boom was third to Mrs Onassis in the Oakleigh Plate and also finished in the placings in Perth’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes and the Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes at the spring carnival.
Listen Son joins the pair as part of a three-pronged Gollan-trained brigade entered for the Victory Stakes.
The Victory Stakes will feature a mostly local line up but winter carnival regulars Peter Moody and Peter Snowden have both nominated strong hopes.
Moody has sent former Queenslander Ready To Rip home to capitalise on strong early campaign form. The five-year-old was second in the Bob Hoysted Handicap first-up before claiming top honours in the Thoroughbred Club Cup.
Darley head trainer Snowden has three of his charges entered including Group 1 placegetter Albrecht who is yet to rediscover his outstanding spring form.
