BUFFERING - THE DUBAI DIARY - PART 5

By Robert Heathcote | Wednesday, March 23, 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 will, workload permitting, provide HRO readers with exclusive details in a series of blogs entitled ‘Buffering - the Dubai Diary.’ This is Part 5.

The barrier draw is now done for Buffering’s race on Saturday evening and he came up with gate 9 in the field of 13.

The locals tell me that is a good draw as the higher number gates have been favoured the last 10 years or so.

Not so sure if its track bias or just the way it is, but being closer to the stand is probably a good thing.
Buffering has now done his final ‘piece’ of solid track work.

He galloped up the straight on Tuesday morning and he went super. Bright, alert, keen and enthusiastic and just as importantly he pulled up in great shape from his work.

Strangely enough it rained quite heavily just after we had worked so the 5am slot worked well.

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Melanie says the track was about a soft 5 underfoot but they seem to be constantly watering the turf track and there is a lush covering of grass so I do not expect the track to be firm which is better for Buffering.

So, work wise, Buff is where I think he needs to be. He is fit and healthy and he has the right attitude.

He will just have an easy lap of the Meydan dirt track on Thursday and Friday and some easy trot canter on Saturday morning.

I suppose though it is not until the gates spring back and we see him jump and run that we will know if we know he has come here to the World Cup Sprint with his A game!

We do know one thing though with the little Bulldog ... he will certainly give his all and I am sure he can do us proud.

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The barrier draw this morning was quite a lavish and well managed event as I have come to expect with everything here at Meydan.

It was good to have some support with the Buffering contingent arriving for the race.

There was plenty of impressive silver and gold trophies on display and hopefully we can get our hands on one of them on Saturday.

There is an enormous contingent of media here from all over the world and as the World Cup has created incredible interest worldwide which I guess is what Sheik Mohammed set out to achieve and he sure has succeeded in a huge way.

Buffering, perhaps being the sole Australian horse here, has generated quite a deal of interest from the media.

**There is a quite amazing frenzy of activity going on all around the facilities with an army of cleaners and gardeners and engineers and construction crews getting everything in pristine condition for the big event on Saturday. (See photos below right).

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