Few horses have raced with as much expectation as Downloading who gets a chance enhance his own reputation at Doomben.
Downloading will be attempting to make it three wins in a row and his first in Saturday metropolitan class.
The gelding has found a new lease of life at distances around 1600m.
Downloading has had to carry the burden of being a three-quarter brother to Queensland’s favourite horse of the past decade in Buffering.
By the sire Love Conquers All out of Action Annie, Downloading is raced by many of Buffering’s owners and carries his blue and black colours.
No one really expected Downloading to emulate Buffering who won seven Group One races before being retired five years ago.
But try as trainer Robert Heathcote might to quell any comparison between the two horses, it was inevitable.
Heathcote, who has been on a short holiday, now trains in partnership with Chris Anderson who was in charge when Downloading won at a Doomben midweek meeting at his last start.
“Rob has always tried to make it clear Downloading was never going to be another Buffering,” Anderson said.
“After all there is only one Buffering. But Downloading has won five races now and a sixth on Saturday would be fitting.”
The Anderson-Heathcote have been averaging a Saturday winner a meeting since starting in May and have five runners to start the new season at Doomben.
