THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - LOCALS BASK IN THE GLORY OF AN INTERNATIONAL VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Sunday, April 3, 2016

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

Those who stayed up until the early hours of last Sunday morning to watch Buffering race at the Dubai World were rewarded by being able to witness first hand an international victory by an Australian star.

Buffering is a Queensland treasure and the fact that his jockey, Damian Browne, is Sunshine Coast based meant that the result left a warm glow of celebration over the local area in the aftermath of a victory that had been achieved so many miles away.

In truth, Buffering was just been doing what he has always been doing ... giving his all ... but this time the whole racing world was watching.

The recognition that Buffering team received for their efforts in Dubai completely raised the whole profile of the horse to a stratosphere it had never been before ... as it did with the reputations of trainer Robert Heathcote and Damian Browne.

It is hard to believe that it was just over a year ago (on March 19, 2015) when a report was released which stated that, ‘Scans have confirmed Buffering is out of Brisbane Winter Carnival. A re-scan in three months will determine if he races again.’

When Buffering did make it back to competitive action in a Group 1 at Moonee Valley nearly six months later real doubts still existed about his future ... but then he won that race!

Trainer’s love to say, ‘we’ll let the horse tell us what he wants to do next.’ Well Buffering was telling his connections in no uncertain terms he was ready to go!

In his five starts since that comeback victory Buffering has won another two Group 1’s (taking his Group 1 tally to seven) as well as a $1 million race on Magic Millions day and he is doing this as an eight-year-old at a stage of a career when many of his age group are either roaming the paddock or chasing faster horses home.

Buffering’s constitution, competitive attitude and superior ability have proved to be the foundation layer for the recipe for success ... but that is not all it takes.

Trainer Robert Heathcote’s handling of the horse has been sublime. From day one Heathcote was never shy to tackle the best with Buffering. He did not hide the horse away from facing the likes of Black Caviar and, arguably, it was those contests which sharpened Buffering’s already considerable will to fight on against all odds.

As Buffering moved into the second half of his career, Heathcote spaced his runs perfectly. There was still no quarter asked or given in terms of who Buffering raced against, but there was always a schedule in place which would ensure that Buffering was fully primed for the task he faced ... as so clearly evidenced by the Dubai result.

The relationship jockey Damian Browne built with the horse was no less important. If you talk about a horse and rider working together as one, this is it. A critical factor when racing at the highest level. A box ticked.

And let’s not forget Melanie Sharpe, Heathcote’s travelling ‘foreman’ and Buffering’s work rider who is an integral part of the winning team.

So, if you haven’t done so already, raise your glass to a famous Australian international victory and then raise it again to its strong connection to Queensland and the Sunshine Coast!