ROB'S SHOUT - BUFF IN HONG KONG (PART 2)

By Robert Heathcote | Friday, December 5, 2014

In his personal blog, exclusive to HRO, multiple premiership winning trainer Robert Heathcote continues the 'Buff Diary' as horse and trainer settle into their new surroundings in Hong Kong

Buffering lost 10 kilos on the flight over which, I am informed, is about normal. The attending HKJC vet said she has seen many travel worse than these two boys (Buffering and Criterion) have and in the three days they have been here they are both nice and bright and alert.

The quarantine stabling facilities are first class with very rigid security measures in place.

Access to the stables is very closely monitored. State of the art hand scanners are used to gain entry together with pin codes being required to enter the facility.

The International grooms are put up in the Royal Park Hotel and a shuttle bus is provided to get us to and from the stables each day.

It’s about a 10 minute ‘shuttle’ drive but my wife and I walked it this morning along the river. That was an eye opener with many locals practising Tai chi and other forms of ‘exercise’ all the way along the 40 minute walk.

The ‘Internationals’ are given allotted times for their track work. Buffering usually walks up with Criterion and Red Cadeaux walked up to the all-weather track with them this morning to do his work.

Now there’s another horse they should do a statue of at Flemington?

Maybe put it a length behind the Makybe Diva statue … but he has runs three 2nds in the Melbourne Cup.

Amazing indeed!

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Friday morning Buff was as bright as he could possibly be. He pretty much licked his feed bin out for the first time since he has arrived in Hong Kong.

He did nice leisurely pace work on the all-weather track for just over a lap with Melanie commenting that he will need to do some more work in the morning as he is feeling ‘great.’

A smart ‘local’ has advised me that we are permitted two uses of the ‘grass track,' being the course proper, prior to the International race-day and best take advantage of it as its quite daunting for horses as they swing into the straight and see the enormous grandstands packed with screaming, excited punters.

Buffering has raced in front of some pretty big crowds but it sure is a sight looking up the Sha Tin straight from the 400m mark.

I will give Buffering some light work on the grass in the morning and then he will have a more testing gallop on Tuesday morning.

THAT will just about top him off.

The horse’s fitness is not my main concern. Rather it’s his attitude, health and well-being which needs to be spot on come Sunday the 14th.

Throw in a good barrier too as that can be the difference between being right in the mix or doing it real tough!

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You only have to look at me to see I don’t mind a Chinese dumpling!

The jockey who rode my first ever winner as a trainer took me to a dumpling joint for lunch called ‘Din Tai Fung’ that has food to die for.

It certainly was great to catch up with Christian Reith and his lovely wife Bettina. The food was so good we went back for dinner.

I enjoyed the chat with Christian … great to see him doing well here but as he says, this sure is one hell of a tough riding school!

That’s another story though for another day.

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I met with several of the local journalists this morning (Friday) keen to get an update on Buffering.

I enjoyed a good chat with revered local South China Morning Post racing journalist, Alan Aitken. Alan said the big sprint is about as open a race he has seen in many years and drawing a good gate will be crucial to our chances.

He never baulked when I asked him if he thought Buffering can win. ‘He’s in with a chance’, he said!

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Buffering’s jockey, Damian Browne will be arriving in Hong Kong next Thursday.

He won’t be riding on the track prior to the race but we will walk it together maybe on the Friday afternoon and permission has been given for Damian to even have a walk on it on race day if he wishes.

I have to say again, it sure is an amazing sight just walking around the home turn into the Sha Tin straight with that amazing grandstand.

I can only hope Damian is sitting on Buffering, somewhere near the lead as they thunder into the straight next Sunday arvo with a lap full of horse under him.

TO BE CONTINUED

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