Hugh Bowman will replace the suspended Nash Rawiller on Buffering in Saturday’s Group One Doomben 10,000 with trainer Rob Heathcote confident Queensland’s star sprinter will be fit for the race.
Heathcote has experienced a roller coaster week trying to get Buffering fit for the Doomben 10,000 after the gelding was ruled out of the Group One BTC Cup with a stone bruise.
The four-year-old was the favourite for Doomben 10,000 but has eased to $4.60 with TAB Sportsbet behind BTC Cup winner Sea Siren at $4.20.
“He’s missed a fair bit of work because of his stone bruise,” Heathcote said.
“But I’m confident he’ll get there. I gave him two laps around Doomben on Saturday and he pulled up great.
“The stone bruise burst out on Friday after he came back from a 60-minute walk at the beach.
“The pain he was feeling dissipated immediately after it burst and there’s no pain at all now.
“The biggest worry is missing so much work. He’ll be going into the 10,000 underdone.”
Rawiller won the Group One Doomben Cup on Saturday on German import Mawingo but was later suspended for 10 meetings for causing interference to the Peter Moody-trained favourite Manighar who finished third.
Rawiller’s suspension also rules him out of the Queensland Oaks meeting on June 2.
He will be back in time for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 9.
It was a busy day for stewards with Melbourne rider Peter Mertens also copping a suspension ruling him out of the Queensland Oaks meeting on June 2.
Mertens has indicated he will appeal the ban.
Mertens won the Group Three Roses on Sydney filly Invest who is into $9 for the Queensland Oaks (2400m) behind $5 joint-favourites Miss Artistic and Angel Of Mercy.
Singapore-based Opie Bosson was suspended for seven meetings for causing interference on Vittoria in The Roses while Vlad Duric and Paul Hammersley also incurred careless riding suspensions.
