Monday Rewind: Buffering king of the world

THERE were many highlights over the Easter break but the clear winner came in the early hours of Sunday when Queensland warrior Buffering beat the world in Dubai.

Buffering in dubai All pics: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

THERE were many highlights over the Easter break but the clear winner came in the early hours of Sunday when Queensland warrior Buffering beat the world in Dubai.

Buffering made it Group 1 No. 7 with a typical gutsy frontrunning performance as he defied an international field to claim the $1.25 million Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on the richest night in world racing.

Buffering put on a show in Dubai. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

The victory was the 20th of an amazing career and sent Buffering’s prizemoney through the $7 million ceiling and second only to Black Caviar for sprinters.

Not bad for a horse sold for just $22,000 at the 2009 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Welcome to another edition of Monday Rewind as we look back at the best and the worst performances from the weekend.

HOW HE DID IT: AUSSIE BUFFERING BEATS THE WORLD

Shayne O'Cass (The Daily Telegraph)

Rosehill

Hugh Bowman celebrates as Preferment claims back-to-back Group 1s with success in The BMW. Picture: AAP

BLITZED

Preferment. Fair enough Winx has three hoofs on Horse of the Year honours but spare a thought for stablemate and close runner-up Preferment, who last weekend added The BMW to his Australian Cup win. One has to marvel at the sheer stamina this son of Zabeel has, taking off at the 600m and holding on bravely till the end.

BLUNDERED

Solicit has been tremendous throughout this campaign but she’s come to the end now it would appear beating only a couple home as the $2.10 fav in the Group 2 Emancipation.

HOT

The J-Shea, J-Mac duo were at their dynamic best on Saturday taking out four races including a handful of stakes level events.

NOT

Storm The Stars. Far being it from me to kick a horse at any time, let alone while they are down, but the Storm The Stars experiment just hasn’t work. He is a shadow of himself here compared to what he was back home.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Grand Marshal, Happy Hannah, Lady Le Fay.

Danny Russell (Herald Sun)

Caulfield

Brad Rawiller and Black Heart Bart after winning the Victoria Handicap. Picture: Getty Images

BLITZED

Former Perth sprinter Black Heart Bart was sent out a $2.60 favourite and then set a monster task to run down the free-wheeling frontrunner Charmed Harmony, but managed to get there on the line. The Goodwood beckons.

Petits Filous is a bombproof filly. She jumps, sets a demanding pace and then kicks to the line. Stick with her as Ciaron Maher targets the Arrowfield in Sydney and then the Sangster in Adelaide.

Apprentice Dylan Dunn rated Team Hawkes runner Leebaz to perfection, leading from start to finish in the Group 3 Easter Cup. The chasers challenged late but had used too much petrol by the shadows of the post.

BLUNDERED

With eight of the nine winners at Caulfield starting shorter than $6 the day pretty much went to script. However, Puccini and Pay Up Bro are two that should be sent to the money munchers’ corner.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Black Heart Bart and Petit Filous were top-notch, Jalan Jalan made a promising return, while Gretna and Testability were unlucky.

HOT

Peter Moody. Suspended for six months, but changed the narrative into a fairytale farewell.

NOT

Godolphin in Melbourne. Holler looked home in the William Reid only to be nailed late by Flamberge, adding further weight to Godolphin’s Group 1 curse.

Nathan Exelby (The Courier Mail)

Doomben

Jockey James McDonald and Old North take out the Tulloch Stakes. Picture: AAP

BLITZED

Looked potentially tricky with a wall of horses in front of Old North coming to the turn at Rosehill, but Hugh Bowman picked his way through the field in a twinkling and made a bird of it.

BACK

Nice effort by Promas against the boys at Doomben. Has put two good Saturday runs together now and has breeding that suggests the mare will get further — hence opening up a host of easier options.

The third horse Oradonna had the flashing lights on at Doomben and is going places, but Sammi Jain turned in a ripper effort herself first up and should atone in similar class soon enough.

Trainer was indifferent on the chances of Bagus going into this, so it was a good effort at Doomben to be in the three-way photo. Hard to toss when she heads north next time.

SACK

Vienna Royale came in for good betting support again, but failed to show any fight at the end at Doomben. He has been costly for a while now.

Could pick a stack from the last at Rosehill to sack, but as Sadler’s Lake was best backed, the honour falls his way. Backed up quickly from the fresh run and didn’t find much in the straight.

Not a noted first-up performer, so can be forgiven on that front and on-pacers dominated at Doomben, but still expected more given Fiftyshadesofgrey’s CV against better opposition. The market knew.

MARKETS

T.J. SMITH

Randwick, Saturday

$3 Exosphere

$4.60 Chautauqua

$9 English

$13 Malaguerra, Japonisme

$16 Holler, Lucky Hussler, Terravista

$21 Speak Fondly, Flamberge

$26+ Others

SYDNEY CUP

Randwick, April 9

$3.60 Libran

$4.40 Who Shot Thebarman

$6 Grand Marshal

$12 Rising Romance

$13 Sir John Hawkwood

$16 Almoonqith

$18 Gallante

$23 Dee I Cee

$26+ Others

Odds: UBET

THIS WEEK

Tuesday: Grafton, Stony Creek

Wednesday: Ipswich, Wyong, Bendigo, Strathalbyn, Bunbury

Thursday: Rockhampton, Pakenham, Hawkesbury, Warrnambool, Geraldton

Friday: Townsville, Orange, Sapphire Coast, Cranbourne, Echuca, Narrogin, Darwin

Saturday: Doomben, Randwick, Mornington, Morphettville, Ascot, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Goulburn, Kembla Grange, Taree, Werribee, Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs

Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Lismore, Wagga, Ballarat, Bordertown, Pinjarra, Hobart

THE QUOTE

“She’s a really lovely filly and off that will be close to favourite for the Oaks.” — Brett Prebble on Vinery Stud Stakes runner-up Valley Girl.

THE TALKING POINT

There are many — Peter Moody on Thursday night, Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman with Preferment in The BMW, Nick Oliver and Kathy O’Hara in the Vinery Stud Stakes, then trumped in the early hours of Sunday by Team Buffering in Dubai.

Outgoing trainer Peter Moody celebrates after Flamberge takes out the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Picture: Mark Stewart