Buffering set for more Group 1 glory in VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington

CONNECTIONS of Buffering admit it will be surreal going into the VRC Sprint Classic with the monkey off their backs.

Damian Browne and Buffering just hold off Lucky Nine to win the Manikato Stakes last month.

CONNECTIONS of Buffering admit it will be somewhat surreal going into Saturday's VRC Sprint Classic now the monkey has been dislodged from their collective backs.

Australia's best Group 1 maiden shed the tag amid wild scenes in the Manikato Stakes late last month.

Rob Ciobo was among the part-owners that let loose that evening.

"I would describe the feeling as being close to the one you have when your own children are born," Ciobo said.

"It's something that you had really been looking forward to for such a long time and then it finally happens. It's hard to describe. It was just an amazing feeling.

"We came back to the unit, with Robert (Heathcote), Damien (Browne), (and fellow owners) Bruce Harry and Chris Lord and probably watched the video about 150 times.

"It took time to sink in. Did this really happen?"

Among the most vivid memories for Ciobo was taking the tram from Moonee Valley back to their Melbourne accommodation.

"We were just talking on the tram and a few people asked if we'd had a winning night," he said.

"When we told them we won the Group 1 race, they said, 'what the bloody hell are you doing on a tram?' We didn't think of doing anything else."

Chris Waller said in the wake of Red Tracer's Tatts Tiara win in June that she would probably win another Group 1 now her hard luck streak had been broken and the prophecy came true last Saturday.

Ciobo and his other owners are hoping the same rings true with Buffering today.

"I can't wait for the race and Robert (Heathcote) is so pumped up he thinks we're going to win again," Ciobo said.

"Buff nearly pulled his arm off when he was walking him again this week. The horse is just feeling enormous."

Buffering runs next in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth and then spells. The major stumbling block on Saturday seems to be the Hong Kong star Lucky Nine and the Darley juggernaut, which has three runners aiming to defend the race they won with Mental last year.

Lucky Line trotted a lap of Werribee and had a light canter over 1400m on Friday.

Trainer Casper Fownes says he was slightly short of 100 per cent for the Manikato, but will strip at his absolute best on Saturday.

Peter Snowden has freshened Buffering's Doomben 10,000 conqueror Epaulette after an inglorious first-up run in the Moir and has Sessions and Sidestep there for back up.

Lucky Nine remains the $3.50 favourite for the race, with Buffering second pick at $7.50.