The loss of Black Caviar from the Doomben 10,000 has opened the race up, but not by much.
The John McNair-trained Hay List dominates betting and rival Rob Heathcote believes his chances of winning with Buffering have been only marginally boosted.
“When I heard Black Caviar came out I wasn’t jumping for joy,” Heathcote said.
“It’s still a very hard race with horses like Hay List, Beaded, and Love Conquers All up against us.
“I couldn’t be happier the way Buffering is going but it’s an extremely hard race.
“Buffering couldn’t beat Black Caviar but with her out our chances have moved up one place.”
Heathcote has trained several Group Two winners during his 11-year training career but is still looking for his first Group One win.
Buffering followed up his Group Two Victory Stakes win at Eagle Farm last month with a third behind Black Caviar and Hay List in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben eight days ago.
Heathcote missed Hay List’s gallop at Doomben on Saturday when Glyn Schofield made a flying visit from Sydney to ride the Doomben 10,000 favourite on the course proper.
“I didn’t see him work on Saturday but from all reports it was a sensational gallop,” Heathcote said.
Schofield downplayed it as “good” after he was reunited with the dual Group One winner and said Wednesday’s barrier draw would be crucial to tactics but he did expect Hay List to lead.
“He’s not one dimensional so he doesn’t have to lead but he’s been running extremely well leading so why change,” he said.
The jockey broke his collar bone in the Sydney Cup and was forced to watch Glen Boss ride Hay List to victory in the Group One All-Aged Stakes that afternoon.
“He got the win he deserved in the All Aged and it was unfortunate I wasn’t on him,” Schofield said.
Schofield only spent three weeks resting up after the before he was back in the gym and riding track work.
“It was only a bone,” Schofield said.
“I’ve been riding trackwork every day for the last fortnight and I could have ridden two weeks ago.
“I’ve been doing gym work for two weeks but I decided to go to Fiji last week for a break when Hay List ran second in the BTC Cup.”
Hay List is the $1.60 favourite for the 10,000 ahead of Beaded at $6.50 while Buffering is a $17 chance.
The unbeaten Black Caviar will have a few weeks rest before being prepared for the spring.
Trainer Peter Moody and her owners believed she had come to the end of her campaign and pulled the pin last week on a 10,000 start.
AAP TURF
