ROB'S SHOUT - BUFF IN HONG KONG (PART 4)
By Robert Heathcote | Sunday, December 14, 2014
In his personal blog, exclusive to HRO, multiple premiership winning trainer Robert Heathcote gives one last look at the state of play as the countdown closes in on Buffering's Hong Kong Sprint challenge later today.
It’s been a busy week but a memorable one.
None more so than Saturday morning after track-work when all the International horses were instructed to walk around the sand parade ring where they would be individually vetted by the Jockey club regulatory vets.
It has been no secret that Buffering had suffered a hoof abscess early in the week so there was a slight air of apprehension as Buffering was singled out for his examination
I was confident Buffering would be given a clean bill of health and allowed to take his place in the sprint field. His work since the ‘injury’ had been sound and focused and he was displaying no soreness at all.
Buffering was about number 6 in order to be vetted and I have to be honest that I did raise my eyebrows watching some of the others trot up as they were not the cleanest trotters I have ever seen and there were some scratchy actions.
This was confirmed to me by one of the vets as Buffering trotted away from us when he commented that this was ‘the soundest horse they had seen to date this morning’.
Phew, the big tick was given and the little Aussie bulldog was cleared to take his place in the field.
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Buffering’s work through the week has been excellent.
He had a light stretch out on the turf track on Friday morning as much to give him another look at the huge stands as he swings around the home bend as well as proving to us he was indeed over his hoof issue.
He is lovely and bright and in a happy frame of mind so he’s sure to acquit himself well later today.
The barrier draw function was brilliantly run.
Enormous media scrutiny and very exciting. We wanted gate 3 to 7 and I was quite pleased to come up with gate 8. This should allow Damian to work across to the fence, or if not, certainly sit outside the leader.
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Wednesday night was an exciting night’s racing at the famous Happy Valley race course. An extraordinary racing venue that words cannot describe.
It was the International Jockey challenge which was won by the Japanese jockey. Incredible facilities and they really do justice to their marketing term … ’Happy Wednesday’. It really is one big party with, of course, enormous wagering.
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It is fantastic having a travelling mate for Buffering. Criterion and Buff have really mated up well and they have been good for each other.
I reckon the chestnut is going to run a cheeky race today. He has done really well.
David Hayes has been a valuable source of information for me having been based here for 10 years so there is nothing he doesn’t know about what it takes to get a winner here!
It’s great to see David’s new venture based out of Euroa kicking plenty of goals again!
Well, that’s it for now. Just six hours until it all happens.
Regards,
Robert
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