THE veteran Australian runner Buffering was a deserving winner of the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, the eight-year-old denying the Irish-bred pair of Ertijaal and Peniaphobia to land the first prize of $600,000.

This was the son of Mossman’s 20th career victory and he has now amassed about US$6.5 million, a very handsome reward for his AUS$22,000 yearling price tag.

He comes from a famous female line developed at Moyglare Stud over many years.

“I don’t know if I have the vocabulary to describe it but I think a coldie (drink) is going to taste pretty good pretty soon!” said the winning trainer Robert Heathcote.

“He’s not necessarily the fastest horse in the world, but, gee, he is tough. I knew he would be hard to beat once I saw Damian (Browne, jockey) sitting motionless on him halfway up the straight. He has beaten some brilliant horses tidily in the end.”

He added: “It took him 18 attempts to win a Group 1 but now he has won seven of them in his last 13 tries.

“He’s such a popular horse back home. I think it is part of our Aussie psyche as he was an underdog for so long. He has raced against the likes of Black Caviar, Hay List and Sepoy but now he has shown that he is a pretty good horse himself. He has taken on the best in the world today and I’m just damn proud of him.He has run a time which is a career best for him and he has done it at the age of eight.”

Browne has been Buffering’s jockey for all of his major wins.

“He’s such a warrior. He’s getting better with age,” he remarked.

“I was worried beforehand that a couple of the others would be a bit slick for him over five furlongs, but he was able to jump well and be right up there.

“From there I knew he would be strong at the finish as six furlongs is probably his optimum distance.”

Buffering will make his next start in Hong Kong for the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on May 1st. Heathcote concluded: “After that we will think about going to Ascot to shake hands with the Queen. The King’s Stand Stakes looks the likeliest option at this stage.”

After the race Sole Power’s rider Chris Hayes said: “Everything went according to plan. They probably didn’t go the fractions I was expecting and I travelled too well. He’ll be better when they go faster.” The combination finished in tenth pace.