3 minute read

Crowd favourite Buffering will line up in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) a for a fifth time at Flemington on Saturday.

Winner of the race in 2013 when defeating Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress, Buffering has finished behind some class sprinters at his other attempts beginning with a second to superstar Black Caviar in 2011 along with an eighth to Mental in 2012 and fourth to race rival Terravista in 2014.

Although now an eight-year-old, Buffering is still racing in elite form winning the Group 1 Moir Stakes first up before a last-start fifth to another race rival Chautauqua in the Manikato Stakes.

“We touch wood every day and it’s one race at a time, but while the weather has put a dampener on it, it still looks another wonderful edition of the big sprint,” trainer Robert Heathcote said.

Heathcote was more than happy with Buffering’s last effort when he was forced to work hard in the early stages of the race.

“Probably the most encouragement we took out of it is that the tempo was brutal early and he never got a breather at any stage but he still gave his customary kick coming into the straight,” Heathcote said.

“(Jockey) Damian (Browne) said his bowser was on empty at that stage and it was only his courage that got that extra length out of him.”

Heathcote said Buffering was still showing plenty of zest in his work despite his age.

“He did his final piece of solid work on Tuesday morning and he was as good and enthusiastic as I’ve seen him in quite some time.”