Damian Browne is free to ride Buffering in his comeback race after getting a stay of proceedings pending his appeal against a suspension which threatens most of his autumn carnival ambitions.
The jockey was outed for six weeks after being found guilty of not giving Kingtantes every chance in a race at Eagle Farm last week.
Buffering, Damian Browne - Photo by Sharon Chapman
Browne filed an appeal against the stewards’ decision which will be heard on March 18, allowing him to ride star sprinter Buffering in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday week.
Robert Heathcote, who trains Buffering and Kingtantes, says he believes Browne has been hard done by for what he sees as a simple mistake.
“… my wife and I are the majority owners and we were happy with the ride,” Heathcote said.
“Sure it wasn’t Damian’s best but if I was to complain about rides on my horses which weren’t a jockey’s best I would spend all month in the stewards room.
“A reprimand would have been sufficient.”
Stewards opened the inquiry after Browne finished third on Kingtantes, about seven lengths behind the winner Primal Flight, in a maiden.
Stewards found Browne failed to take an available run between two horses at the 300m and failed to show the vigour expected between the 300m and 200m.
It was not suggested Kingtantes could have won the race but stewards felt the horse could have finished second.
Browne argued he was riding to instructions and his not guilty plea was supported by Heathcote who said he was thrilled Browne would be able to ride Buffering next week.
“Damian and Buffering have a great partnership. No one rides him as well,” he said.
Nash Rawiller has been approached to ride Buffering in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 12 should Browne fail in his appeal.
Rawiller has had two rides on Buffering for a Group Two win in the 2010 Roman Consul Stakes and second to Black Caviar in the 2011 Group One VRC Sprint.
Buffering has emerged as a triple Group One winner this season with Browne his pilot in all three.
The jockey will be at Warwick Farm on Saturday to ride the Heathcote-trained Fire Up Fifi in the Group Three Wiggle Stakes (1400m).
