Popular sprinter Buffering in good spirits and ready to take it straight to them in Dubai shootout

REPORTS from Rob Heathcote that Buffering has settled in without a glitch has Damian Browne believing the Queenslander is going to be a key player on Saturday night.

IN encouraging signs for Buffering’s army of fans, jockey Damian Browne says rubbing shoulders with the world’s best jockeys on the biggest global stage isn’t what he’s looking forward to most at Meydan on Saturday night.

“That will be good, but it will be even better walking out of there with a trophy in my arms,” Browne said.

Browne arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday (Australian time) and immediately found himself at a media breakfast as he took in his first glimpse of the $1 billion home of the Dubai World Cup.

“It’s a pretty impressive place,” he said. “It’s exciting for sure. This is what you’re in the game for. To ride on the biggest night in world racing is going to be fantastic and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Reports from trainer Rob Heathcote that Buffering has settled in without a glitch has Browne believing the $6 million earner is going to be a key player on Saturday night.

“The favourite (Ertijaal) looks pretty smart and there are a couple of others there that go all right, but I’m sure Buffering won’t be far away from them,” Browne said.

“He loves the straight course and has always been competitive wherever he’s gone.”

Heathcote said Buffering pulled up “brilliant” after working down the straight on Tuesday and said he had taken the imposing Meydan grandstand all in his stride.

Jockey Damian Browne and trainer Robert Heathcote celebrate another one of Buffering’s many memorable victories. Picture: Andy Brownbill

$1.25 million AL QUOZ SPRINT (1000m)

Meydan, Sunday 1.10am

$4 ERTIJAAL

$7 Buffering, Sole Power, Peniaphobia

$7.50 Notlistenin’tome

$9 Muthmir

$11 Goldream

$15 Jungle Cat, Lady Shipman

MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

Wrona appointed Santa Anita caller

EXPAT Australian Michael Wrona has landed the plum job as track announcer at Santa Anita, reports AAP. Wrona, 49, began calling races as a teenager in Queensland and has spent 25 years in the United States, the past 10 at Golden Gate Fields.

The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, conducted an international search for their new announcer with Wrona coming out on top of the final four.

“This was a much harder decision than anyone could have imagined,” Joe Morris of the Stronach Group said. “In the end, as we said from the beginning, we listened to our fans, our horsemen, the media and our employees.”

Wrona will begin his full-time role in May. “I’m overjoyed and humbled that Santa Anita is entrusting me with a booth occupied by so few announcers in the tracks storied history,” he said.

Santa Anita has only had four primary track announcers since it opened in 1934, though others have filled in throughout the years.

Michael Wrona is ‘’overjoyed’’ to be chosen as the new racecaller at Santa Anita.

Originally published as Popular sprinter Buffering in good spirits and ready to take it straight to them in Dubai shootout