BROWNIE'S BLOG - PUTTING HONG KONG BEHIND US AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A DAY OUT AT THE GOLD COAST

By Damian Browne | Thursday, May 5, 2016

Damian Browne, reigning Queensland's Jockey Of The Year, is rated right up there with the best jockeys in Australia and, as such, his highly informed views make essential reading for anyone in the racing industry. Here, Damian looks back at Buffering’s run in Hong Kong last Sunday and then concentrates his focus on his upcoming day out at the Gold Coast this weekend. Damian’s column, ‘Brownies Blog’ appears exclusively on HRO

The Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong didn’t provide the result we wanted from the Buffering camp’s point of view, but Australia still took centre stage courtesy of the brilliant effort of Chautauqua.

I had an inkling getting around to the start that Buffering wasn’t as bright as he has been.

He sweated up a little bit as well ... not badly, but more than he had done in Dubai and it wasn’t that hot there either, so I was a little bit concerned about that as well.

As it turned out that concern was warranted.

At the end of the day the hot, frantic pace almost made it impossible for us anyway but generally when Buffering is like that, he can still go on a hot pace and still be there at the 200 ... and then probable battle a bit from there, but we were already in trouble at the 500.

We were going that quick in the early part that no horse involved in that battle was really comfortable. There was just so many of us trying to get into the position we wanted to be it just made it that much more difficult.

I actually though after a couple of hundred metres that, because we were going that quick, maybe Peniaphobia might let me back it off mid-race, but he just put the pressure on me the whole way which didn’t enable us to have that breather that we needed to have.

We were already beaten at the turn. I was never concerned with Buffering’s action in any way but just the fact that he was struggling before the corner I knew for certain he wasn’t quite right.

From there I just pretty much sat up on him and started pulling him up in the straight. There was no point in being too hard on him to run tenth.

There was concern for Buffering after the race as well but I believe the vet scans have come back showing there is nothing seriously wrong with him which is a great relief to everybody.

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About three weeks ago I didn’t seem to have much lined up for the Winter Carnival at all, so it was nice to come home after the week we have had in Hong Kong to find I’m getting good support from some high profile stables.

It’s a good position to be in.

Peter and Paul Snowden, John O’Shea, The Freedman stable, along with Robert Heathcote and Stuart Kendrick, have all given me rides at the Prime Minister’s Cup meeting at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

I ride It’s Somewhat for John O’Shea in the Hollindale Stakes.

Godolphin have got two runners in the race and I was booked under the assumption that I was getting the second choice ... with James McDonald obviously getting the first choice and taking the ride on Hauraki ... but when I read the form I thought I might even be on the better one.

I haven’t watched the videos yet but there is nothing wrong with my one’s form.

His last run, in which he actually beat Hauraki, was in the Group 1 Queens Elizabeth 2 Stakes won by Lucia Valentina.

You would think that’s not bad form coming here so I very happy to be on It’s Somewhat.

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Rob Heathcote and I team up again with Hopfgarten in the Prime Minister’s Cup.

Hopfgarten won very well first-up last start, albeit that the race did fall away with the Gollan runners being scratched due to the crash situation that played out on the highway.

If I’ve got a concern it’s that his record at the Gold Coast isn’t the best but I still expect him to run well.

I’d really like to win this race for Rob after the difficult time he has had this week.

The Snowden stable always give me opportunities where they can. I ride Falkenberg for them in the Gold Coast Bracelet.

She looks to be a progressive type of horse. Her form reads pretty well. She’ll race on pace which should suit her. She looks to be a nice chance.

The Freedman stable has given me Santa Ana Lane in the Gold Cost Guineas. He is another one whose form is very strong for a race like this. He has drawn well and should get a nice run.

Stuart Kendrick has Charnley River in the Ken Russell Memorial. He is a really nice horse with a lot of potential.

At the moment he is still doing a lot of things wrong.

Stuart’s been tinkering with the gear. He has taken the blinkers off him for Saturday. I know if the horse can do things right he will be more competitive and that is what we are hoping to achieve.

Not a back of rides in this early part of the carnival.

Hopefully they go well and I can kick on from there.

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