Damian Browne to miss autumn carnival rides on Buffering after being banned for six weeks

DAMIAN Browne has been rubbed out for six weeks and will miss Buffering’s entire autumn campaign.

Browne and Buffering streak away during a Doomben barrier trial.

QUEENSLAND Racing’s most popular partnership has been torn apart after stewards on Tuesday rubbed Damian Browne out for six weeks, meaning he will miss superstar Buffering’s entire autumn campaign.

Browne’s 26-year blemish free career was rocked after stewards found him guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures aboard Kingtantes in a maiden at Eagle Farm last Wednesday.

Just hours earlier he guided Buffering to a dominant three-length win in an 800m jump-out.

A “shell-shocked” Browne pleaded not guilty and was on Tuesday night weighing up his options. Nash Rawiller is favourite to replace Browne if he is unsuccessful at appeal.

Browne is considering appealing against his ban that rules him out of the entire autumn carnival.

Stewards found Browne failed to take a run between Captain Kitinger and rival Busy at the top of the straight and lacked sufficient vigour between the 400m and 250m.

In a marathon two-hour hearing Browne conceded it “wasn’t my best ride” but said his intentions could not be questioned.

Buffering’s trainer Robert Heathcote, whose wife Vikki owns 70 per cent of Kingtantes, gave his full support to Browne’s ride and aired an audiotape he had sent to the owners about how tricky the horse had been to ride and train in the lead-up to the race.

“I 100 per cent do not believe anything sinister took place. I’ve got no problem with the ride whatsoever,’’ Heathcote said.

“I’ve had a very long association with Damian and never at any stage have I questioned him.’’

A furious Heathcote described Browne as a “cleanskin” and suggested at worse Browne had made a “mistake”.

Betting records showed no abnormality on the race and Heathcote, who was a special guest at the Launceston Cup on the day, said he had told a function he thought the horse would race well.

The decision could cost Browne several hundred thousand dollars with Buffering’s grand final in the $2.5 million T J Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 12. He was also going to be called upon to ride for the Darley operation.

Browne and Buffering streak away during a Doomben barrier trial.

Browne remains free to ride Fire Up Fifi in Sydney on Saturday.

“I’m shell-shocked,’’ Browne said.

“In 26 years of riding this is the first time I’ve been in a situation like this.”

Browne admitted it was a poor ride and conceded he had second guessed himself about what run to make.

“I’m the first to admit it is not one of my best rides. I’m not proud of how I rode the horse,’’ he said.

Stewards questioned how a jockey of Browne’s calibre could second guess himself in a $17,000 midweek race.

Steward Jamie Dart, who was chairman of stewards at the meeting, described Browne in the “upper echelon of riders”

“The ride is not of the standard we expect of a rider of your calibre,’’ he said.

“We do not accept this was a case of error of judgment.’’

Dart and the panel, which included chief steward Allan Reardon, deemed Browne’s ride had cost Kingtantes second spot in the race. The horse finished third.

Browne’s suspension will commence at midnight on Sunday and end on April 20.

Buffering will resume in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) on March 15.