MOSSMAN son Buffering’s earnings eclipsed the $4m barrier as he clinched his third successive Group 1 win in Saturday’s WATC Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth.
The two-time and reigning Queensland Horse of the Year has risen to become the nation’s undisputed sprint king in the absence of past nemesis’ Black Caviar and Hay List.
The Robert Heathcote trained geldings brave all the way win in the Ascot feature came at the expense of the Peter Moody trained Moment of Change who threw out a concerted challenge to Buffering but to no avail.
Ridden by regular jockey Damian Browne, Buffering has now notched 15 wins from 38 starts and the Winterbottom lifted his prizemoney past the $4 million barrier.
“He’s a wee champion he pushes hard when he is down and out, and they almost had me on the canvas at the fifty metre mark but he just dug in,” winning rider Damian Browne said.
“He gives his heart when he’s down and out. The other horse (Moment Of Change) had him on the canvas at the 50 but he just dug in. “He was able to do a bit but he still found plenty.”
Buffering’s long and fruitful career has seen him win 15 of his 38 starts with 14 placings, 10 of those at Group 1 level.
Trainer Rob Heathcote decided to take up an offer from Perth racing authorities instead of heading to Hong Kong next month. “What can I say, he’s a champion,” Heathcote said. “He’s an extraordinary little animal and very resilient.”
“He is an extraordinary animal, he is so resilient and to win three Group Ones in a row is kind of crazy stuff,” Heathcote said.
Buffering joins an esteemed honour roll of past winners of the Winterbottom including Testa Rossa mare Ortensia who took out the 2009 and 2011 versions.
