The chances of star sprinter Buffering racing again have improved after a month of rest and relaxation.
Buffering began light work at a Queensland spelling property on Wednesday which could be the first step to his return to racing in Melbourne in the new season.
The gelding was injured when unplaced in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on May 1 and doubts were raised about his future.
But since returning to Queensland, after quarantine in Hong Kong and then Melbourne, Buffering has given indications he is keen to race on.
Trainer Robert Heathcote will closely monitor Buffering’s pre-training regime before making a final decision to bring him back into full-time work.
“He made a public appearance at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke day and was bucking his brand off like a two-year-old,” Heathcote said.
“Since then he has had a month spelling with the sun on his back and eating too much but he has done well.
“Buffering’s health and wellbeing always will come first. But if he continues to show us he wants to race and he is well, we would push on.
“A happy horse is a good horse and that has always been the case with Buffering.”
Heathcote said if all was well, Buffering might tackle his fifth Group One Moir Stakes at the start of the Melbourne spring carnival.
“He has won three and been second once so it is the obvious race even with Chautauqua and Extreme Choice to contest it,” Heathcote said.
He said the fact Buffering at nine could be flying the Group One flag for Queensland was an indication of how hard it was to get top class horses.
“It really is hard for Queensland trainers to get Group one horses. There are many reasons but at some stage we are all going to have to address them,” Heathcote said.
