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Buffering wins Group 1

| October 26, 2013
Buffering wins Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley

Buffering wins Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley

Popular sprinter Buffering secured a long-awaited maiden Group One victory in claiming the $1 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Placed on 10 occasions at elite level before Friday, Buffering had at last earned a deserved place in the spotlight having for so long raced in the shadow of Black Caviar and Hay List.

In typical brave fashion, Buffering led the field before withstanding a strong challenge from Hong Kong star Lucky Nine to win by a short half head.

Sessions, having his first run at Group One level, flashed home for third in a blanket finish.

Trainer Robert Heathcote was beaming with pride in the winner’s enclosure and said he felt like he had just climbed Everest.

“Gee what do you say? Eighteen goes at a Group One and he gets the job done tonight in a $1 million race. That’s something special,” he said.

“I was beginning to wonder if he’d ever win a Group One. They said he was the best sprinter in the world (Lucky Nine), well I’ve got one better.

“Buffering just puts in every time, and the couple of runs out of his 36 starts that he hasn’t there’s been something wrong.

“They say this is the place where legends are made, and he’s a legend for me.”

Buffering was sent out the $7.50 second pick behind and the hot favourite Samaready ($2.15), who was expected to replicate her dynamic first-up victory in the Moir Stakes.

“Everybody was talking Samaready right up, and we knew it was a terrific win last time by her, but we just thought if we could get a little bit of luck mid-race, he was going to take a lot of catching as he always proves,” said winning jockey Damian Browne.

“At the furlong (200m) he really dug in and gave me a length and you know he’s always going to fight.

“The last couple of bounds when Lucky Nine was coming I was thinking, ‘Geez, come on post’.”

Buffering now takes his record to 13 wins and 14 placings for $3.2 million in prize money.

He will now target the $1 million VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington, where he will reoppose many of his rivals on Friday night, including Lucky Nine who is chasing a rich global sprint challenge bonus.

Samaready settled midfield and looked poised to pounce before the turn, but she did not show the same acceleration she did in the Moir and battled into eighth.

The Manikato was the highlight of the Moonee Valley card, run on the eve of the club’s championship race, the Cox Plate.

 

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