QUEENSLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING AWARDS: BUFFERING IS THE TOAST OF THE TOWN
By Graham Potter | Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Buffering has cemented his place in history by taking out the Queensland Racing Horse of the Year title for an unprecedented fourth time.
Much has been written about the now eight-year-old son of Mossman in the last twelve days following his astounding victory in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley (which was his third victory in that race).
All of the conversation has come down to what a talented and tough performer Buffering has been throughout his career ... almost from day one ... and, on a larger scale, what a great servant and ambassador he has been for racing in the state of Queensland.
Monday night’s award, which at one stage might have looked to be Buffering’s final crowning glory, might now just be another accolade along the way.
While not getting ahead of ourselves, that latest Moir win clearly suggested that ‘Buff’ is not finished yet and, if he does go on to add to his list of conquests, a fifth Horse Of The Year title would not be out of the question.
Credit to Rob Heathcote and his stable team for their understanding of just what it takes to keep Buffering ticking over in such a competitive manner at the highest level of competition.
Buffering also duly won the Four-year-old and older Horse of the Year title.
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Another essential component part of Buffering’s success story also walked away with an award.
Let’s not mince words about this one. Damian Browne being named Queensland Jockey of the Year amounted to recognition being given to a jockey that was long overdue.
Suffice to say the result was both thoroughly deserved as well as being a very popular choice.
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Tony Gollan won the Queensland Trainer of the Year award after clinching back-to-back Metropolitan Premierships on his way to a record breaking season in which he established a new mark for the most metropolitan winners in a season by going past the total set by the late Bruce McLachlan.
McLachlan's record had stood for twenty-seven years.
Gollan also duly won the Metropolitan Premiership Trainer award and the Gollan stable put another notch on the scoreboard with Traveston Girl, who won the Queensland Three-year-old Horse of the Year.
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Luke Tarrant took out the major award for apprentices when landing the Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year award. Tarrant was also victorious as the Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year.
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Jim Byrne was also a multiple award winner on the night going home with the Metropolitan Premiership Jockey and the Steward’s Choice Jockey awards.
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Other horses to claim individual titles were the Darryl Hansen trained Magic Millions winner Le Chef (Two-year-old Horse of the Year), the Les Ross trained Mishani Honcho (QTIS Horse of the Year – based on prize-money) and the Lynn Tipper trained Feltre (Metropolitan Horse of the Year).
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The Country Racing Awards went to Schoorin (Horse of the Year); Aaron Spradau (Country Premiership – Jockey) and Todd Austin (Country Premiership – Trainer).
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The Provincial Racing Awards went to Cloud Dancer (Horse of the Year); Adrian Coome (Country Premiership – Jockey) and John Manzelmann (Country Premiership – Trainer).
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The Provincial Apprentice of the Year went to Emma Ljung while the Country Apprentice of the Year award went to Tamara Tincknell.
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Awards on the breeding front went to Jet Spur (Queensland Stallion of the Year), Kenbelle (Queensland Broodmare of the Year), Rothesay (Queensland Champion First Season Stallion) and Real Saga (Queensland Champion 2Y0 Stallion).
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... and last, but not least, the four Hall Of Fame inductees were Snippets (Horse), Digger McGrowdie (Jockey), Watty Blacklock (Trainer) and Clive Morgan (Hall of Fame Associate).
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