HE may not be the most brilliant, nor the most versatile sprinter in the land, but Buffering is without question the most honest. Placed in 35 of his 50 starts he has won 18 of those, logging an incredible six wins and 13 placings from 31 starts in Group 1 races. His most recent win at that highest mark came in last Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes at Perth’s Ascot racecourse. One of just two Eastern State horses to travel west for the $1 million 1,200-metre sprint, Buffering was sent out a short-priced favourite in the field of 15 with regular jockey Damian Browne up.

It was trademark Buffering, breaking from the gates to take up the running and kicking again on straightening to keep his pursuers at bay. Home by a length and just 0.17 seconds outside the track record, Buffering defeated the Eternity Range gelding Waterman’s Bay with the Fastnet Rock gelding Fast ‘N’ Rocking third.

“He’s a marvel, he really is a wonderful animal and Damian just rode him beautiful,” said trainer Robert Heathcote. “He didn’t commit everything early and left something in the tank and the horse was too strong.” With plans now to head back to his home state of Queensland and prepare for the $1 million Magic Millions Cup in January, Heathcote also outlined plans to travel to Dubai and Royal Ascot in 2016. “During the week I received a call from Dubai inviting us there to run in March and it sounds a nice place to visit and after that there’s a place called Royal Ascot I’d be keen to visit,” added Heathcote. “He’s an eight-year-old but he’s such a good traveller as he showed again over here.”

Saturday’s win was Bufferings second Winterbottom Stakes win having also succeeded in 2013. The son of Mossman out of the Anabaa mare Action Annie, bought for $22,000 at the Magic Millions Premier Yearling Sale, now boasts stakes earnings of A$5,842,366.

Good Project performs well to land Railway Stakes

CHRIS Waller was back in Group 1 action at Ascot in Perth last weekend as his stable landed their 10th Group 1 in a season not four months old. Playing a sole hand with the four-year-old Not A Single Doubt entire in the A$1 million Railway Stakes over 1,600 metres, it was a case of catch me if you can as Good Project hit the ground running to cross from his wide barrier and lead all the way. Home by two lengths it was left to the Lonhro gelding Messene and the Balmont mare Balmont Girl to fill the placings.

“Chris said to trust the horse because this was the race they had targeted,” said jockey Craig Williams. “I was a little bit worried when he was under pressure but he was trained up to the minute. It’s a great thrill to come here and win a race like this.”

A $300,000 yearling from the Inglis Melbourne Premier, Good Project is the second Group 1 winner for Not A Single Doubt and may now head to the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic on December 5th.