Buffering finally scores Group 1 breakthrough in Manikato

There are likely fewer horses more deserving of a Group

1 victory than Buffering, and Friday the ever-reliable performer got the monkey off

his back at long-last when holding on from Lucky Nine in the dying strides of the Manikato.

On the board a

remarkable 28 times in 37 starts, Buffering has finished second or third at the highest level

nine times from 18 attempts, including three occasions at the hands of Black Caviar.

Buffering last visited the winner's circle in the April 27 Victory

Stakes at Doomben, and unlike most of Australia's top-level

performers, he continued to race through the Australian winter, finishing

fourth in the BTC Cup at Eagle Farm May 11, third in the Doomben 10,000 May 25,

and second in the Stradbroke Handicap at

Eagle Farm June 8.

A short holiday ensued, and Buffering returned

September 27 to finish second to runaway victress Samaready in the Moir Stakes over this track and trip.

Keen from the outset here with Hong Kong raider Lucky Nine hot on his

heels, Buffering galloped along in second through the early stages

before moving up to take the lead about 700 meters out. With Lucky

Nine still breathing down his neck and Shamexpress circling

three-wide to challenge, Buffering swung into the short Moonee Valley straight with an advantage of

about three-quarters of a length. Shamexpress began to back up at the 100-meter mark as Lucky

Nine began to roll, but it was too late, as Buffering managed to hold on by a short head. Samaready was headstrong while racing midpack through the early stages, but failed to fire

when it mattered.

Trainer Robert Heathcote was understandably ecstatic after the victory.

"Finally!" he exclaimed. "He's had 18 goes at a Group 1 and he gets the job

done in a million-dollar race. That's something special."

"They say Lucky Nine is the best sprinter in the world,

but I've got one better," Heathcote quipped. "He just puts it in every time. They say this is

the place legends are made, and he's a legend to me."

Lucky Nine's regular rider Brett Prebble was in an upbeat mood about the

gelding's effort, his first outing since a victory in the May 19 KrisFlyer

International Sprint in Singapore.

"He ran super but just hit a flat spot at the 450 meters,

which he never does," Prebble said. "When he straightened up he was back to his usual self. He

was so courageous, and one more bound I had (Buffering)."

"He's done us proud," Lucky Nine's trainer Caspar Fownes

said, adding that his charge's next start would be the VRC Sprint (formerly Patinack) Classic at Flemington

November 9.

"What an effort and he'll improve a lot from that. I was concerned about his fitness

coming into this race. He'd probably done too well here in Melbourne. Coming to the bend they

swamped him, but then his big heart kicked in. Another stride and we're probably

there."

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