Trainer Rob Heathcote is confident of winning his battle against time to have Buffering fit for the Group One Doomben 10,000 on Saturday week.
Buffering is making steady progress from a stone bruise which forced his scratching from last Saturday’s Group One BTC Cup at Doomben.
“I took him to the beach yesterday and again today for a 40-minute walk in the salt water but the hoof is still showing slight signs of sensitivity,” Heathcote said.
“But you can at least see some of the bruising is starting to come out.
“Hopefully it will all clear up by Thursday so I can work him but these sorts of injuries can linger on.
“If I can’t gallop him Thursday I’m hoping to work him on Friday or there’s a chance we might be able to have an exhibition gallop with Woorim between races at Doomben on Saturday.”
Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller is booked to ride Buffering in the Doomben 10,000 while Melbourne’s Michael Rodd will take over from suspended jockey Damian Browne aboard Woorim in the weight-for-age feature.
Despite his injury, Buffering remains a $4 favourite for the Doomben 10,000 with BTC Cup winner Sea Siren at $6 while last year’s winner Beaded is on the third line at $10 following her third in the BTC Cup.
Rodd also has been booked for the Heathcote-trained Solzhenitsyn in the Group Three Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Solzhenitsyn returned to his best form for Kiwi rider James McDonald, winning over 1350 metres at Doomben last Saturday.
McDonald is unavailable as he’ll be riding at the Scone meeting this week.
“I’ll give Solzhenitsyn a hit-out tomorrow but at this stage I’m backing him up,” Heathcote said.
Stewards questioned Heathcote following Solzhenitsyn’s win after the five-year-old raced in a more prominent position that what he has in past.
“Stewards asked me why he raced more forward so I told them it was the first time he had drawn a decent barrier,” Heathcote said.
“If he races well on Saturday I’ll run Solzhenitsyn next over 1500 metres in the (Listed) Spear Chief Handicap two weeks later then the Tatt’s Mile.
“Long-term we’re looking at the Melbourne spring with him.”
Solzhenitsyn won three races when trained by Richard Otto in New Zealand but has won four of his 10 starts since joining Heathcote.
