Trainer Robert Heathcote has provided an update on star sprinter Buffering (Mossman – Action Annie, by Anabaa) who is set to defend his title when he resumes in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday 25 September.
Buffering was forced to miss the Brisbane winter carnival after injuring himself in trackwork in March, but Heathcote believes the extended layoff has benefited the ageing sprinter.
“He’s been back about five weeks now. I gave him a little bit of three-quarter work on Tuesday. He had an extended break but he’s sound, he’s healthy, he’s well,” Heathocte told RSNs Shane Anderson yesterday.
“We’ll go to the Moir and then its three weeks on to the Manikato and then the Darley Classic.”
He added: “The true test will come when I put more pressure on him but the five weeks he’s back with us he’s looked like the Buffering of old.”
Heathcote said the 4 time Gr.1 winner will trial in Brisbane before travelling south for his Gr.1 engagements. “I will definitely trial him here at Doomben before bringing him down to Melbourne but at this stage I’m not sure when that will be,” he said. “I may even give him an exhibition gallop but I’ll just play it by ear. I’ll have to monitor the weather, the state of the track and so on.”
