Robert Heathcote relieved after star sprinter Buffering cleared of serious injury

A NIGHTMARE 24 hours came to an end for Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote on Monday with news star sprinter Buffering could race on after being cleared of serious injuries.

Rob Heathcote says Buffering will head for a break before a decision is made on the sprinter’s future. Picture: Mark Cranitch

A NIGHTMARE 24 hours came to an end for Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote on Monday with news Queensland star Buffering could race on after being cleared of serious injuries.

Heathcote woke in Hong Kong on Sunday morning to the news his brother Jeff had lost his battle with cancer.

He then feared the worst when Buffering pulled up sore in his off fore fetlock after finishing a distant last in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

At first Heathcote feared he had “lost his two best mates over the weekend” but confirmed Buffering may now race on after a positive vet report on Monday.

“The vets were over the moon with him (Monday morning) and they couldn’t believe his recovery,” Heathcote said. “There is no filling in the joint and he didn’t require any X-rays and trotted up sound. They think he possibly just jarred up a bit and it wasn’t the track but just his age.”

Buffering is in quarantine and will return to Australia in two weeks for a well-earned break.

Heathcote said the eight-year-old could race to claim a fourth Moir Stakes win in Melbourne in September but only if the star sprinter proves he has the “desire and soundness”.

Heathcote knows Buffering is now the people’s horse and won’t hesitate to pull the plug on his glittering career if he shows any signs he has had enough.

“I’m still not going to definitively say he will race on but I’m not going to say he is retired,” Heathcote said on Monday. “We will just let time be the best healer and he will tell us where we head after quarantine and a break.

“I won’t be running him for the sake of running him and I love the quote of John Hawkes (on Monday) when they thought long and hard about going to England with Chautauqua.

“John said to me ‘it’s not about the money and it is in the best interest of the horse not to go’, and full credit to them.”

Buffering finished last in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Heathcote said the last few days have been emotionally draining as he paid tribute to his brother on Monday.

“It’s been a brief illness and he was only 66,” Heathcote said. “I’m just so bloody pleased that I went down to Tasmania for three days to see him before I came over here.

“I was just hoping he could hold on and watch the race. He loved Buffering.”

Originally published as Robert Heathcote relieved after star sprinter Buffering cleared of serious injury