Trainer Rob Heathcote has arrived in Hong Kong to oversee star sprinter Buffering’s attempt at another overseas Group One win.
The star Queensland sprinter won the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai and went from there to Hong Kong where he will run in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday week.
Heathcote arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday night and was greeted by the horse’s handler Melanie Sharpe with the news Buffering was doing very well.
“He is 810 kilos which is his optimum weight,” Heathcote said.
“Buffering had a gallop on Tuesday morning. He has settled in well at Sha Tin and at this stage all is going well.”
“Chautauqua has arrived here safely and it has set up a mouth-watering clash between Australia’s two best sprinters but I have a lot of respect for the others.
“It’s not just a two-horse race.”
Heathcote scrapped a trip to Royal Ascot trip for Buffering.
“To ask him to fly again to England would have been a bridge too far,” he said.
“We can bring him back for an attempt at a fourth Moir Stakes in the Melbourne spring and there is a chance for a third Winterbottom Stakes in Perth.”
“Buff probably has four or five runs left in him as he is rising nine.”
