2015 Manikato Stakes Swansong for Buffering

October 21, 2015

2015 Manikato Stakes Swansong for Buffering

Queensland hoop Damian Browne admits that Friday night’s Manikato Stakes 2015 run at Moonee Valley could be the career swansong of Robert Heathcote’s brilliant $5 million earner Buffering.

Buffering

2013 winner Buffering contests his fifth straight Manikato Stakes under the lights at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The veteran eight-year-old son of Mossman is one of 10 sprinters in the mix for this year’s $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), a race Buffering contests for the fifth straight year this weekend.

Fourth in 2011 to Sepoy and sixth to Sea Siren in 2012 he won the race in the race two years ago before a seventh behind Lankan Rupee last Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

The always-honest Queensland champion has to date won 17 of his 47 career starts amassing an impressive $5,154,866 in prize money for connections, and Browne has been aboard for his 17 most recent starts including five Group 1 victories during that stint.

Buffering is a five-time winner from 10 Moonee Valley runs, his latest being a first-up victory last time out when proving his evergreen status in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on October 2.

“They’ve all been pretty special [the Group 1 wins] and after everything we’d been through it was great to just get one on the board,” Browne told The Age this week.

“Over the last 12 months people have probably been saying he’s past his best and it was good last start he could show everyone he’s not.”

That was his third Moir Stakes win in four years and could prove the form line to follow into his second-up run in the Manikato.

Despite the horse’s excellent form, Browne is always wary when he jumps on board that it could be the last time Buffering gets to prove his brilliance on the track with age sure to catch up with him.

“With every run you’re wondering now,” Browne told The Age this week.

“When you get to that age, you know the end could come any time with him really.

“But it’s surprising just how well he comes up each time. I suppose we were starting to wonder whether he still had the will to win, which is his main asset. The other night he showed he has.”

From 10 previous second-up runs Buffering boasts three wins, two seconds and two thirds and is drawn in barrier seven for his 11th attempt two runs in.

Barrier seven hasn’t produced a Manikato Stakes winner since King Marauding won as a three-year-old back in 1992, a hoodoo Buffering will be out to break this weekend.

No eight-year-old has won the race in either 30 years either, giving the 2013 champ a couple of statistical disadvantages this Manikato Stakes Night.

The latest Manikato Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Group 1 classic, are firmly led by the champion Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua ($2) jumping from gate two with Tommy Berry aboard.

Buffering meanwhile is an early market mover backed in from $8 into $7.50 to beat other stars including the rails-drawn Joe Pride-trained Terravista ($5.50) and the returning Ciaron Maher-trained mare Srikandi ($6.50) who, from the outside alley, is likely to work across.

Browne is happy with his alley and knows how hard inside alley are in a fast-paced sprint like the Manikato at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit.

“You would hope the likes of Chautauqua will get buried along the fence … at least that’s what we hope anyway,” he said.

“Their barriers are probably more of a concern to them than ours is to us anyway.

“I suppose [Buffering’s] racing pattern is a big help around [Moonee Valley], whereas the likes of Chautauqua do need a bit of luck. My bloke just takes luck out of play and it probably suits him a little bit more.

“I’d rather there be not as much drama [this year] and we just win it out on the track. The horses in the race, I know there are only 10 in it, are all quality and it’s going to be a super race.”

To back Buffering at the right price and access Best Tote or SP + 20% markets on the Manikato Stakes 2015 visit Ladbrokes.com.au now!

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off