BROWNIE'S BLOG - I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH BUFFERING

By Damian Browne | Monday, September 12, 2016

It was five years ago last Saturday when Damian Brown was first given a leg-up for a race ride on Buffering. Their journey has been a document of achievement and, after a stirring trial by the Rob Heathcote trained champion at Doomben last Wednesday, the Buffering team look set to write another chapter in their story. In this edition of Brownie’s Blog, which is exclusive to HRO, Damian Browne talks about the horse that continues to take him on an incredible journey.

I was really happy with Buffering last Wednesday. It was the first time I’d seen him or been on him since Hong Kong and I was really happy with what I felt ... and in particular his attitude and his action.

Those were the two things that I was most concerned about going into the trial but both were very good. He gave me exactly what I hoped to get out of him at this stage of his return to action.

Anybody who was at Doomben saw what a positive attitude he has in terms of how he goes about his work ... from the parade ring to the track ... and I think that is what is surprising everybody.

Even Jimmy Byrne, who gave him a gallop last Saturday I think, he said he just can’t believe the resilience of the horse at nine years old ... just how tough he is and how much enthusiasm he has got about it all.

I couldn’t agree more.

Rob (Heathcote) wanted him to have a good hit-out in the trial and about the 600m ... when I really let him slide ... he was really enthusiastic to do it. I didn’t have to make him, which was a good sign.

I know some people were getting a little excited about the time Buffering ran for the 1050m (59.58 with a 32.14 run home) but, to be honest, I don’t really read too much into times.

There are simply too many variables in play that can contribute to faster or slower times on any given day. The only thing about the time, if anybody asks, is I say I think we went around at about half-past one in the afternoon.

The horse can tell you far more than any time taken. That’s why, from my perspective, I’m more into how they feel and that sort of thing in terms of determining whether it was an impressive gallop or not.

So basically Buff did everything we asked him to do. There is still some fitness to work on, as you would expect.

I wasn’t too sure if he was going to be able to get back in time for the Moir (on September 30) but, from all of the indication I got on Wednesday, I couldn’t be happier with him.

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Interestingly enough, last Saturday (October 10) was the fifth anniversary of my first race ride on Buffering.

I won on him that day in the McEwen Stakes. I rode him in his next two starts but, after that ... and this might surprise some people ... it was a full two-and-a-half years (and twelve runs later) before the ride came my way again.

In fact I missed two, full preps ... with Nash Rawiller, Michael Rodd, Jim Byrne and Hugh Bowman taking over for those eleven runs from November 2011 to November 2012.

The main reason for that was Woorim was racing in the same sort of races at the same time. Obviously they were both trained by Rob and, after I won the Group 1, Oakleigh Plate on Woorim the decision was made that I stick with Woorim.

I ended up riding him in sixteen out of his last twenty starts.

Woorim’s last run was in the Oakleigh Plate (a year after he had won it). That was in February 2013 and when Buffering resumed, having his first start in 2013 in the Victory Stakes in April, I was back in the saddle ... as I have been ever since.

Our unbroken partnership run currently stands at nine victories (including seven Group 1’s) from twenty three starts while racing in four states and two overseas precincts over a period of three years and five months.

I’m very proud of that record. It doesn’t happen too often.

Having said that I have to acknowledge that I have been pretty lucky in respect of injuries and suspensions ... those sorts of things can get in the way, so I’ve been very fortunate in being able to stick with Buffering.

In conclusion, I can only repeat how pleased I was to be reunited with Buffering in such a positive way last Wednesday.

It was a good day.

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