FRESH up from a break, the Robert Heathcote-trained Buffering highlighted his sprinting prowess with a tenacious display that saw off Lankan Rupee and Rebel Dane by a nose and a head to win his fourth Group 1 in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley recently. The 1,200 metres sprint highlighted the skill of jockey Damien Browne whose perfectly rated front-running ride improved the Mossman gelding’s record to an impressive 43 starts for 16 wins and 17 placings. Totalling just over $4.75 million in earnings, it’s a ‘lotto like’ return for a $22,000 yearling purchased by Paul Willets from the 2009 Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.

“It looked like he was going to go down there, but he’s just a little bulldog,” said Heathcote. “It’s just great to have him back because I thought he was off his game back in the autumn. He’s seven now and I reckon he could go on till 10, but another three years of this … I don’t know how I’d cope.”

Buffering will now return to Moonee Valley for the Manikato Stakes in three weeks’ time where he will likely run into Lankan Rupee and Rebel Dane again. For Mick Price it will be back to the drawing board for Lankan Rupee who had the sit on Buffering but could not overhaul him. “I think he races best at the bigger tracks like Flemington and Caulfield, but I can’t avoid the races here at Moonee Valley,” said Price. “We have the Manikato in four weeks and I won’t be shying away from that.”