BUFFERING - THE DUBAI DIARY - PART 4

By Robert Heathcote | Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Trainer Robert Heathcote’s on the spot reporting of Buffering’s previous international trip to Hong Kong gave the gelding’s supporters rare insight into the ‘behind the scenes’ activities involved in such an undertaking. Now, once again, as Buffering joins the world’s best in Dubai for the Dubai World Cup meeting, Heathcote provides HRO readers with exclusive details in a series of blogs entitled ‘Buffering - the Dubai Diary.’ It is not all work and no play though and in Part 4 of this series Heathcote gives HRO readers an idea of the sights you can see when a champion racehorse takes his connections to exotic places around the world.

Buffering is certainly creating plenty of interest with the local Dubai racing channel filming his track work on Sunday morning.

The old bugger continues to thrive and, inside of a week to the race now, I am comfortable in saying he has travelled extremely well and he’s back where we needed him to be in the countdown to the race.

He really enjoys his afternoon stroll and a pick of grass with the sun on his back.

His weight is back to 508 kilos, a couple down on his best fighting weight but he’s just about right, but we won’t know until he steps into the ring on Saturday night.

The Hong Kong contingent flew in yesterday, the two hardest to beat could well be Peniaphobia and Not Listenin’Tome.

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Dubai sure is an amazing skyline dominated by the tallest building in the world, The Burj Khalifa.

It is not all work and no play with Dubai having plenty to offer the visitors so we have squeezed in some sightseeing. The iconic Arabian Tower is a must sight to see.

Situated on its own island, Burj Al Arab features ultra-luxurious suites overlooking the sea, nine signature restaurants and an opulent full-service spa. Guests may arrive at the property by either one of the world's largest chauffeur-driven fleets of Rolls-Royce's or alternatively by a dedicated helicopter transfer service.

Featuring floor to ceiling windows with panoramic view of the Arabian Gulf, each suite includes four carat Gold iPad, complimentary WiFi, a 21-inch iMac, and widescreen interactive HD TV.

Burj Al Arab’s signature restaurant Al Mahara serves seafood specialities and features an expansive glass wall looking into the aquarium, and The Sky View Bar is suspended 200m above sea level.

You may have seen the unique Heli Pad which actual held a tennis match once between Federer and Agassi in an exclusive advertising promotion.

Vying with the Burj Al Arab is the Atlantis as the best hotel in the Middle East, located at the top of the amazing man made Palm islands. Extraordinary engineering and construction.

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Dubai Marina is one of the world's largest and most luxurious artificial waterfront communities.

When the entire development is complete, it will accommodate more than 120,000 people in residential towers and villas with a mall shopping complex, promenade walking paths.

Million dollar yachts and boats and of course the most amazing display of sports car you will see anywhere ... and that’s common for all of the Emirates.

Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Maclaren’s, Maserati’s and high end Mercs and Beamers and Rollers and Bentley’s are just everywhere.

A group of us dinned with Aussie, John Nicholls , head of the International Quarantine centre in the four Seasons complex at the Nutra Et steak house one night and wow, amazing food , great company and the cars out the front ... I had never seen the Italian supercar, The Pangani but it looked real good done out in Buffering’s colours.

A cool 1.3 million will buy you one of the forty they will make this year!

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But in reality, all of that is just a momentary, although thoroughly enjoyable, distraction from the big race day.

We’ll know Buff’s barrier draw by my next blog.

Talk to you then.

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