The real Buffering is ready to stand up to claim his first win at the highest level in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
That’s the hope of leading Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote who is overlooking the sprinter’s last start defeat in the G1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
On that occasion, Buffering bungled the start and instead of being in his customary role in front, the five-year-old had to chase hard from a midfield position before finishing fourth to Your Song on a heavy track.
“I’m confident we’ll see the true Buffering this Saturday,” Heathcote said.
“Things didn’t go his way in the BTC Cup and I’m a little concerned with this rain that’s about.
“He can cope with rain affected tracks but he’s not at his best in it.
“I certainly haven’t lost faith in him and I’m willing to forget his last run.”
Your Song’s victory has put him at the head of Doomben 10,000 markets but history is against the three-year-old following the barrier draw.
While Buffering drew barrier 12 in the 15-horse field, Your Song will jump from the outside gate.
In the last 30 years, only one horse has won the Doomben 10,000 from the outside barrier while only five have been successful from gate 10 or wider.
Chief De Beers holds the record of winning from the widest barrier when he was successful in the first of his two Doomben 10,000s.
He won from gate 17 in a 20-horse field in 1995 before claiming his second 10,000 victory from the outside gate 14 in 1998.
The other four 10,000 winners to jump from double figure barriers were Between Ourselves (1986), Broad Reach (1987), Potrero (1989) and Mr Innocent in 2000.
Doomben 10,000 day also features the running of the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes and three Group 3 races, the Glenlogan Park and Grand Prix Stakes and Premier’s Cup.
The Sires’ Produce Stakes is being run for the first time at Doomben as it has been traditionally held at Eagle Farm.
Trainer Sam Kavanagh’s plan to qualify Midsummer Sun for the Cups in Melbourne during the spring begins in the Premier’s Cup.
Midsummer Sun has won his only two starts in Australia since being imported from England.
“I brought him here for the Brisbane Cup to try to qualify him for the Cups races in the spring,” Kavanagh said.
“In his European form he sat up on the speed over longer races and for him to win over 1600 metres in Adelaide in his first start here was fantastic as he didn’t have any form over the trip in Europe.
“He’ll be better over further.”
Source : Racing Queensland
