Buffering on course for more riches in Hong Kong and possibly UK after winning big Dubai sprint

UPDATE: TRAINER Robert Heathcote hailed the character and resilience of Buffering after the eight-year-old stormed to victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.

Aussie Buffering beats best in world in Dubai

ROB Heathcote credited Damian Browne with having the precision of Tiger Woods in his prime as Buffering took his connections closer to a meeting with The Queen after his brilliant win in Dubai on Sunday morning.

Buffering, the idol of Queensland racing, won the 20th race of his career and took his earnings beyond $7 million when he defied an international field to claim the $US1 million Al Quoz Sprint on the richest night in world racing.

“Today he proved he truly is a racehorse to be treasured,” Heathcote said.

“To race in 32 Group 1 races is extraordinary and to have won seven of the last 15 he has contested is quite unbelievable.

“That’s why he has endeared himself to so many people. I have been blown away by how much interest there is in this horse. I’m pinching myself.

“I don’t think I have the literary skills to describe what it was like after that race. It was just surreal.”

Damian Browne celebrates as Buffering wins the Al-Quoz Sprint. Picture: AFP

Heathcote said Browne’s pre-race research was a key factor in Buffering’s success.

“He inspected that track like he was lining up a putt Tiger Woods style,” Heathcote said.

“He worked out where he thought the best ground was and he knew exactly where he wanted to be. He was able to put pressure on the outside horses so he could get to the spot where he wanted to be.

A jubilant Damian Browne returns to scale.

“It was a perfect ride and a true indicator of why a quality jockey knowing a quality horse works on the world stage.

“Browney stood up and so did the horse.”

Amid the excitement of Buffering’s win, Heathcote was tapped on the shoulder by Royal Ascot official Nick Smith, who invited him to the famous meet in June.

“We have already planned to run in Hong Kong on May 1 and then the timing of Royal Ascot couldn’t be better, coming in the second week of June. I’d love to shake hands with The Queen,” Heathcote said.

Rob Heathcote is presented with the winner’s trophy. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Buffering was sold by Kevin Dixon’s Racetree for just $22,000 at the 2009 Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is an oddity in the racing world in that he has just kept getting better with age.

“I was pretty confident the whole week. Everything he had done here had been spot on and every single indicator was positive,” Heathcote said.

“I kept waiting for something to go wrong.

“There is nothing I could say to truly describe the feelings I have for this horse. He’s a horse of the people now.”

We’ve done it: Damian Browne and Buffering after their magnificent achievement. Picture: AFP

All Australia eyes were on the popular Queensland sprinter and he made a superb start from barrier nine.

Browne then timed his run to perfection 100m from home to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of local favourite Ertijaal with Hong Kong’s Peniaphobia in third.

Buffering ran a career best 56.34sec.

Meydan’s racecaller Terry Spargo, who kicked off his career in Queensland more than 30 years ago, proclaimed “life is great in the Sunshine State” as Buffering crossed the line, defying a host of internationally performed sprinters.

California Chrome was the toast of Dubai after his impressive win.

Later on the card, American wonderhorse California Chrome, ridden by Victor Espinoza, sprinted to victory in the Dubai World Cup, taking the world’s richest horse race in a canter.

California Chrome, trained by Art Sherman, won the World Cup by almost four lengths despite Espinoza having to battle with a slipping saddle during the ride.

“He likes to run clear of his horses, he doesn’t like to be bumped around. Victor knows him, he did a super job,” Sherman said.

California Chrome, who was the favourite last year but came a surprise second, has been in Dubai for more than two months, whereas last year he arrived just 10 days before the race.

The five-year-old is owned by California Chrome LLC and is also the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion.

The mighty Buff puts on a show knowing the world is watching. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Originally published as Buffering on course for more riches in Hong Kong and possibly UK after winning big Dubai sprint