Rain forecast for Brisbane later this week has further boosted trainer Rob Heathcote’s confidence in Buffering heading to the Doomben 10,000 after a drama packed lead-up.
A stone bruise put paid to what seemed Buffering’s best chance yet for an overdue Group One victory in the BTC Cup last Saturday week and Heathcote has been battling to get him fit for his racetrack return.
The abscess caused by the stone bruise burst on Friday and Buffering was given a searching workout with his stablemate and 10,000 rival Woorim on Monday morning.
“He worked well this morning and more importantly pulled up sound,” Heathcote said.
“He’ll keep going to Nudgee Beach for some power walking in the surf.
“I’ll be taking him to the races on Saturday in good shape.”
Heathcote said the prediction of rain was a more significant factor for Buffering than the barrier draw in the Group One 10,000 (1350m) which has a maximum field of 16.
“They are saying there will be 25 millimetres on Friday and that is really significant for Buffering, more so than the barrier draw,” he said.
“He loves the wet.”
Buffering’s 2012 campaign began with a third in the Group One Lightning Stakes behind unbeaten champion Black Caviar and Hay List.
He then came within a half head of victory in the prestigious Newmarket Handicap when denied by Hay List.
Three-year-old Foxwedge foiled Hay List and Buffering in the William Reid and Heathcote bypassed Sydney and took the horse home to Brisbane to prepare for the winter carnival.
Buffering scored a confidence-boosting seven-length win over Scenic Blast at Eagle Farm on May 2 in a 1200m race added to the program after rain washed out the Saturday meeting five days earlier.
While many thought Buffering would be the horse to give Brisbane’s leading trainer his first Group One success, that honour went to Woorim in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February.
He has been out of the money in four starts since but Heathcote was happy with his Monday workout.
“He worked OK,” he said.
“He’s Woorim. He’s got ordinary feet and if he had perfect feet his record would be different.
“But he will be there on Saturday.”
Michael Rodd, who rode Buffering to his three autumn Group One placings in Melbourne, will be aboard Woorim replacing his Oakleigh Plate-winning rider Damien Browne who is suspended.
Hugh Bowman will ride Buffering after Heathcote was forced to find a new jockey when Nash Rawiller was outed for his winning Doomben Cup ride on Saturday.
BTC Cup winner Sea Siren($4.20) replaced Buffering ($4.60) as favourite for the 10,000 at the weekend with Scone Guineas winner Pampelonne third elect at $8.
Martin will inspect Pampelonne on Wednesday to ensure he has travelled well to Brisbane with Corey Brown to take over from Hugh Bowman on the three-year-old.
