MOSSMAN youngster Buffering lost no admirers despite suffering his first defeat in five starts when a brave third in today’s Group two BRC Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.

The Robert Heathcote-trained gelding had led throughout to win each of his previous four starts and earned connections some $320,000 prior to today’s race.  Buffering again set a cracking tempo from the outset refusing to give way despite repeated challenges in the straight.

It wasn’t until the last 100m when Sydney-sider and eventual winner Pressday loomed up inside the final 100m that the effort told with Buffering holding down third in a time of 1:09.96s.

In doing so, the gelding becomes Mossman’s 11th individual stakeshorse for the 2009/10 season, one of four in the 2YO category.

Mossman’s growing tally of stakeswinners for the season momentarily stood at five last week after Tee Emar was first past the post in last Saturday’s Group Three BRC Rough Habit Classic (2200m) only to lose the race in the steward’s room.