Buffering looks the horse to beat first-up in the Challenge Stakes 2014 this weekend. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Four million dollar earner Buffering is back from their spell this weekend, Rob Heathcote’s stable ace shooting for a first-up win in the 2014 Challenge Stakes at Royal Randwick.

One of not only Queensland’s but Australia’s most consistent sprinters, Buffering has an outstanding Group 1 record that includes a trio of elite level victories he snatched up during the spring.

After years of countless Group 1 minor placings the six-year-old son of Mossman finally scored one of his own in the Manikato at Moonee Valley in October.

From there it was onto Flemington’s VRC Sprint Classic and then Western Australia where he made it a trio in the Winterbottom Stakes on November 23.

Buffering returns on Saturday, the obvious danger in the $400,000 Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m).

Running as Randwick Guineas Day Race 5 at 3:37pm (AEST) this year’s Challenge Stakes field features 10 hopefuls.

Buffering jumps from gate three with Damian Browne aboard and is one of two Group 1 winners from the sunshine state along with the Tony Gollan-trained Temple Of Boom (barrier nine) who is also first-up here.

Other top gallopers resuming for the autumn include the Peter Snowden-trained Lonhro four-year-old Sessions who ran third to Buffering in the Manikato, Magic Millions Sprint champion Whittington for Gai Waterhouse and the Noel Mayfield-Smith-trained Famous Seamus drawn in barriers seven, four and six respectively.

There are then three runners second-up with a run behind them including two last start winners.

Joe Pride saddles up his Dubawi six-year-old Tiger Tees from barrier one with Nash Rawiller to ride while the Gerald Ryan-trained Snitzel mare Snitzerland jumps from eight.

Tiger Tees returned from a four and a half month break at Eagle Farm on February 22 to take out a Listed sprint defeating Adebisi.

Former top juvenile, the now four-year-old Snitzerland’s first-up win was far more impressive as she defeated Shamexpress to take out the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).

The complete Challenge Stakes 2014 field, barriers, jockeys and (WFA) weights are detailed below.

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2014 Challenge Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Royal Randwick Race 5 – 3:37pm (AEST) – 15/03/2014