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The eight-year-old son of Mossman, a $22,000 purchase at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, led from the outset after jumping well and responded to the urgings of regular jockey Damian Browne upon straightening to post a comfortable 1.5 length win over Mister Booze and Steel Zip.
The win took Buffering’s career earnings past $6 million with his connections thrilled to be able to showcase his talents in front of his adoring local fans.
“If we’d lost today they (owners) probably would’ve sacked the trainer at fives on ($1.20) so it’s an enormous relief,” Heathcote said.
“It gives me a lot of pride to showcase him here on his home turf in Queensland.
“He’s one of Queensland’s best ever sprinters so to win here in from of everybody is just magic.”
Heathcote said the iron gelding would now get the chance to make a name for himself on the world stage, beginning with the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) on Dubai World Cup night in March.
And if he continues to show the zest for racing that has seen him win 19 of his 51 career starts, the trainer hinted that he could return to the Gold Coast as a nine-year-old in 2017.
“Dubai and Hong Kong and then back for a spell and then down to Melbourne and Perth and back here again this time next year, why not,” Heathcote said.
“I just get enormous pride from him, the dream lives in racing.”
“The sales are on at the moment and they’ve been ever so popular and the dream is there because this horse cost $22,000 so if you want to get into the game and share some of this, get into a racehorse.”
A gelded son of Mossman, Buffering was purchased for $22,000 from the Racetree draft at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale by Paul Willetts.
He is one of four winners from four to race for his dam, the Sydney winning Anabaa mare Action Annie.
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