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.”