Champion Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller has accepted an offer to ride star Queensland sprinter Buffering in the Group One BTC Cup and Group One Doomben 10,000 later this month.
Rawiller was approached last week to ride the son of Mossman in the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday week but could not give trainer Rob Heathcote a commitment at the time.
Damian Browne has been Buffering’s regular rider and rode in Adelaide last Saturday when Buffering was due to start in the washed-out Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Jim Byrne deputised aboard Buffering when the gelding romped home by seven lengths in the weight-for-age Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Buffering firmed to a $2.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet following his Eagle Farm win with Sydney gallopers Pinwheel and Sea Siren next best at $7.
Heathcote was delighted to confirm Rawiller had accepted the Buffering ride in the two Queensland sprints.
Heathcote landed his first Group One in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield during the Melbourne autumn carnival and is looking down the barrel at his second success at elite level with Buffering in the BTC Cup.
“He’s been racing against the best two sprinters in the world in Black Caviar and Hay List and he put them to the sword today,” Heathcote said.
“He deserves to be favourite for the BTC Cup and he’ll probably have a few more points shaved off him after today’s win.”
