MY CALL - FORM DILEMMA FOR BUFFERING'S FOLLOWERS

By David Fowler | Tuesday, May 13, 2014

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

Buffering carried the red flashing light on Saturday … but for all the wrong reasons.

I’m loathe to bag a horse who has done so much for this state season after season. He has given us the ultimate thrill with the Group 1 victories and has got us on our feet more often than not.

But the heart can’t rule the head and there was something vital missing in his underwhelming third in the BTC Cup.

It was his trademark courage!

I doubt his biggest supporters Rob Heathcote and Damian Browne would wage war on me on that comment.

Refreshingly, neither wanted to put spin on the performance and simply shook their head.

I know I can be a sectional times nut but the BTC Cup field went through the first 600 metres in 35.2, hardy a breakneck tempo for this calibre of horse.

There was no authority or arrogance about Buffering when it was needed. He basically battled away.

Heathcote advised stipes on Monday that “Buff” had undergone chiropractic treatment and this might solve a puzzle.

As a champion sprinter he has earned the right to be forgiven.

The heart forgives but the head doesn’t forget.

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Competitive racing, a fair track, and good Queensland results saw BTC Cup day get the tick for the first of the five big days for the BRC.

Where they head and what they do is still problematic at this stage but two Kiwis caught my eye after a post-race analysis.

King Kamada was the victim of a slowly-run race and couldn’t quicken when he wanted to. I like his New Zealand record and a 1600 to 2200m feature is well within his scope.

Rough Copy was only warming to the task in Agitate’s 1100m sprint and I would imagine the Queensland Guineas (1400m) on May 31 would be a likely target.

Follow this pair.

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Leebaz is the “spruik” horse for the headline act this Saturday, the Doomben Cup (2000m).

The Hawkes family is a training partnership in red hot form and it is significant that they gave a trip north the green light after previously being half and half about it.

I like those horses with the fancy strike rates (six from nine) and his pattern of racing is to roll forward which also gets a tick.

But going to 2000m at weight for age is virgin territory.

I’m leaning to the pros outweighing the cons on this one.

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Here’s a free tip.

Bernborough Club guest speaker Glyn Schofield was a late starter at last Friday’s luncheon after riding at the Randwick barrier trials that morning.

But he told all and sundry that a filly called Everage had trialled impressively enough to follow next start.

Sure enough, she is nominated for Scone on Saturday.

Everage has some average form but an improvement is on the cards.

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Great day coming up at the Gallopers Social Club on Sunday May 23.

Billed as “Relax with the Stars”, the 1pm to 4pm gig is open to all with several of the big name jockeys and trainers attending for a casual afternoon.

The freight is 50 bucks for canapés and a drinks package.

The Queensland Racing Media Association is right behind it as we’ll conduct some short interviews with the carnival stars.

Book by ringing Amanda Grant at Gallopers on (07) 3268 1841

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