BUFFERING - THE HONG KONG DIARY - PART 3

By Robert Heathcote | Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Buffering had his final good hit out this morning on the turf.

He lost focus a touch at about the 200 looking at the horses walking back up the straight on the course proper but Mel gave him a gentle slap with the whip and he regained focus and worked strong to the line.

All is in order as we head into the final week ... after the work he buried his head in the feed tin as per usual. All good to go we reckon for the big one on Sunday.

A little hiccup with Mellie rolling her ankle getting off the bus yesterday but plenty of ice treatment overnight and she was good to go this morning. She’s a tough nut!

The Hawkes team were very happy with their grey bugger and yes, he did work strong to the line also. He will be very hard to beat.

Bloody hot and humidity is a killer.

It’s been over 90% humidity every day we have been here. You won’t need warm clothing, that’s for sure.

Kind regards.

Rob

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Buffering's previous Hong Kong track-work record as listed on the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

25/04/16

Cantered on the all-weather track.

Trainer Robert Heathcote said: “He’s feeling good. You saw him prance on to the track this morning so you know he’s full of himself. Just got to keep him ticking over.”

23/04/2016

Worked at three quarter pace on the turf course. 1m31.8s (33.7, 33.5, 24.6)

Trainer Robert Heathcote said: “He's fit and he's a happy horse: just had a stretch of the legs this morning. He'll have a gallop on Tuesday morning and that'll be enough. It's just about keeping him happy through to the race now.”

21/04/2016

Cantered on the all-weather track.

Trainer Robert Heathcote said: “So far, so good, he's ticking over really well.”

20/04/2016

Worked on the all-weather track this morning.

Trainer Robert Heathcote, observing the gelding’s work for the first time this week, said: “He's great, he's much better than he was last time we came here (finishing sixth in the 2014 Hong Kong Sprint). He had a really good gallop here yesterday and came through it well. He also had a nice breeze-up at Meydan before he left Dubai and it's just a case of ticking him over now. It's a terrific race next week.

19/04/2016

Smart gallop on the turf track under regular work rider Melanie Sharpe in 52.1s (29.5, 22.6)

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