Star stablemates Buffering and Woorim continued their progress towards the upcoming carnival in Melbourne with an exhibition gallop between races at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Buffering, ridden by Jim Byrne, worked on the inside of Woorim (Damian Browne) from the 1000 metres with little separating the pair at the finish.
Trainer Rob Heathcote was delighted with their gallops and clocked the pair at 59 seconds with the final 400 metres in 23.5 seconds.
“Both needed that gallop to take the wind out of their sails,” Heathcote said.
“They’ve had a disrupted campaign with the wet weather we’ve had but they looked like they enjoyed it.”
Byrne was particularly pleased with Buffering’s effort on the heavy track.
“It was nice work and I think they (owners) are in for some fun,” Byrne said.
Browne conceded Woorim wasn’t comfortable in the wet conditions but was also pleased with the gelding’s performance.
“He felt tremendous and the gallop will really tighten him up but he always struggles in these conditions,” Browne said.
Both sprinters are booked on a flight to Melbourne on February 14.
Buffering will run first-up in the Group One Lightning Stakes over the straight 1000m course at Flemington on February 18 while Woorim will resume in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield a week later.
The pair will then clash in the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March.
Buffering will remain in Melbourne after the Newmarket for the Group One William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 23 while Woorim will be diverted to Sydney for two further Group One attempts in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill and Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
Buffering was runner-up to Black Caviar at his latest appearance in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington on November 5 while Woorim finished seventh to Albert The Fat in the Group One Emirates Stakes the same day.
AAP TURF
