Damian Browne happy to be home after riding Buffering to victory in Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai

JOCKEY Damian Browne detests travel so much that the five-minute drive from his home to the Sunshine Coast track feels like a cross-country marathon.

Jockey Damian Browne and his wife Kim celebrate his big win on Buffering after arriving back in Brisbane. Pic Darren England.

JOCKEY Damian Browne detests travel so much that the five-minute drive from his home to the Sunshine Coast track feels like a cross-country marathon.

And the former Kiwi gets impatient when he gets stuck at the solitary set of traffic lights between his house and the nearby track.

So you can imagine the trip to the other side of the world in Dubai took more out of the champion jockey than it did out of world-beating Queensland superstar horse Buffering.

The homesick champion jockey arrived back in Brisbane at 6.40am on Tuesday and could not wait to get back to wife Kim and kids Jacob, 9, and Libby, 7.

“I hate travel and it has always been that way, even when I was riding in New Zealand,’’ Browne said. “There are probably a few opportunities in my career that I haven’t taken because I am much happier being at home than getting on planes and having to travel.

“Having to travel so far to Dubai was a bit of a downside, but to be associated with such a great horse like Buffering is an honour for me and something I will treasure for rest of life.’’

Buffering became the toast of Australian racing after taking his earnings beyond $7 million when he beat a crack international field to win the $US1 million Al Quoz Sprint at the weekend.

The horse that was sold for just $22,000 at the 2009 Gold Coast Yearling Sales will continue globetrotting by running in Hong Kong on May 1 and then hopefully in front of the Queen at Royal Ascot.

While Buffering has received plenty of plaudits, so too should Browne who has defied career-threatening leg injuries to conquer the racing world.

The laconic jockey often needs anti-inflammatory medication just to keep him in the saddle, following 16 surgeries on his left leg from riding falls in 2006 and 2008.

“I’ve had problems with my legs and it is fair to say I am getting to the twilight of my career,’’ Browne said. “But when you get to link up with a horse like Buffering, it makes getting up in the morning a lot easier and you don’t really feel the pain.’’

Damian Browne celebrates after Buffering’s win in Dubai.

Incredibly, Buffering has a chance to finish his career with more prizemoney than the great Black Caviar who collected $7,953,936 from her unbeaten 25-race career.

Browne feels it was the early bouts with Black Caviar and Hay List that toughened up Buffering and steeled him for extraordinary success as an older sprinter.

“I think what endears the public to Buffering is that they still remember him from back in the Black Caviar days,’’ Browne said. “Buffering is really the last link still racing that goes back to Black Caviar.

“For Buffering to now get his time in the sun to get his time in sun is very well deserved and very special. Buffering and I have been together for quite some time now and we have a great bond together. You have to cherish these moments while they are about, because they don’t last forever.’’

Originally published as Damian Browne happy to be home after riding Buffering to victory in Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai