Michael Hawkes and Rob Heathcote take on the world with gun sprinters Chautauqua and Buffering

MICHAEL Hawkes isn’t in Hong Kong for a holiday with Chautauqua. But if the grey flash doesn’t win on Sunday, he hopes Buffering scores another Group 1 for his old mate Rob Heathcote.

MICHAEL Hawkes isn’t in Hong Kong for a holiday with Chautauqua.

But if the grey flash doesn’t win on Sunday, he hopes old marvel Buffering flies the Aussie flag and scores another Group 1 for his old mate Rob Heathcote.

Hawkes and Heathcote have been mates since the turn of the century when Hawkes was the Brisbane foreman for his father, John, who headed up the powerful Crown Lodge training operation.

Heathcote was learning the ropes as a new trainer having come from a non-traditional racing background of being a Contiki tour guide and even managing an Austrian ski resort.

Hawkes and Heathcote are rivals this week, both shooting for the rich glory of the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin. But that hasn’t stopped them from sharing a few dinners as they reflected on how far they have come from their early days training in Brisbane.

“You have got to start somewhere and it seems like it was just yesterday we were knocking around in Brisbane together, now here we are taking on the world in Hong Kong,’’ Hawkes told The Courier-Mail from Hong Kong.

“My early memories of Rob were he was a very hard worker and always did everything he could to make sure his horses were presented in the best possible condition.

“It is no surprise to me that Rob has had so much success as a trainer and so much success with Buffering. For Buffering to be racing as well as he is at age eight, is a credit to Rob.’’

Chautauqua is making his first overseas trip but Hawkes insists he has settled in well and is ready to rumble in Hong Kong. He says the recognition of his grey horse in Asia isn’t at the same levels of Buffering who became a world-beater when he won in Dubai.

It goes without saying Hawkes will be cheering his horse but he also hopes Buffering makes Australia proud.

Michael Hawkes gets a kiss from Tommy Berry after Chautauqua’s win in the TJ Smith Stakes. Picture: Mark Evans

“We are not in Hong Kong for a holiday and we are here to win,’’ Hawkes said. ‘’But if Chautauqua doesn’t win then I’d love for Buffering to give it a really good shake.

“It is a very tough race and I really hope both Australian horses run well. Buffering has the runs on the board because he has been overseas and done the job before. We have to do it.’’

Originally published as Michael Hawkes and Rob Heathcote take on the world with gun sprinters Chautauqua and Buffering