Evergreen Australian sprinter Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) will bypass a Royal Ascot trip this year in favour of a domestic and Hong Kong campaign. The 8-year-old won the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan last month, but trainer Robert Heathcote has decided against targeting the G1 King's Stand S. at the Royal meeting in June.
“Ascot was certainly enticing but in the end it was just a bridge too far,” Heathcote commented. “I've still got a business to run back home and the logistics of it were too hard. He deserves a trip home and some sun on his back and hopefully I can get him ready to win a fourth Moir S.,”
Buffering's next aim is the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong May 1 where he will again lock horns with fellow Australian speedster Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}), himself fresh off landing a back to back win in the G1 TJ Smith S. Chautauqua has beaten Buffering twice and although Heathcote is aware of the challenge facing his runner he is certainly not shying away from it.
“I am looking forward to a rematch in Hong Kong. Chautauqua is a thrilling animal and clearly the world's best sprinter, but there was only a neck between us in the Darley Classic,” added Heathcote.
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