Rob Heathcote’s advance spring team of Buffering and Woorim will head to Melbourne early next month in the hope of delivering Brisbane’s premier trainer his first Group One success.
Buffering has been back in work for three weeks following his Brisbane winter campaign and is booked on a flight to Melbourne in the first week of September ahead of his comeback in the Group Two Ian McEwen Trophy (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 10.
Woorim will have one local run in a 1000m Open handicap at Doomben on August 27 before joining Buffering on the same flight to Melbourne.
One of Woorim’s main missions will be the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 24.
“Woorim will have his first start here on August 27 then will fly to Melbourne with Buffering,” Heathcote said.
“His second run will be in the Sir Rupert Clarke, the same race he finished third behind Response last year.”
Heathcote is delighted with the early progress from both sprinters and will stable them at Flemington.
“I’ve been given approval to stable my team at Flemington and there’ll be a few others go down to join them later on,” Heathcote said.
“Buffering has been in work for three weeks. He had four weeks in the paddock after the winter and he’s done brilliantly.
“Unfortunately, I probably won’t have enough time to give him a barrier trial here before he goes away.”
Buffering’s main early mission will be the Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 30.
“I’m not sure what he’ll run in after the Manikato Stakes,” Heathcote said.
“But I’ll be avoiding Black Caviar at all costs right throughout the spring.”
Buffering started his winter campaign with a powerful win in the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm in April before finishing third to Black Caviar and Hay List in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben in May.
After finishing last to Beaded in the Group One Doomben 10,000 on May 28, Buffering ran an improved race to finish fourth to Sincero in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.
He was then spelled following another fourth to Pinwheel in the Group Three Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 25.
Woorim, winner of the Group Three BRC Sprint at Doomben in May, hasn’t started since claiming successive Listed Glasshouse Handicaps (1400m) at Caloundra on July 2 which followed his seventh to Sincero in the Stradbroke.
Damian Browne will be offered the rides on both Buffering and Woorim in their Melbourne campaigns.
AAP TURF
