Popular veteran Buffering is sure to have gained plenty more admirers at Moonee Valley this evening; producing an impressive turn of foot in the final straight to post a fifth victory at the highest level in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).

Jumping from the gates well, regular hoop Damian Browne allowed the Mossman gelding to stride forward and take up the pace alongside three-year-old Fontiton; just ahead of pace horse Ball Of Muscle and clear race favourite Petits Filous.

Receiving a great run in transit, Browne allowed Buffering to spool up before mounting their final assault; the gelding mustering a typically huge turn of foot to hold off Ball Of Muscle and withstand a gallant late charge from Valley specialist Angelic Light.

Browne delivered a typically brilliant performance aboard Buffering for success in the Moir Stakes and heaped all the praise on the class and fortitude of the eight-year-old sprinter.

“Everything just worked out as we’d hoped and gee Rob has done a great job getting him back and at peak fitness for the 1000m tonight,” Browne said.

“I know there was a big wrap on a couple of the horses in this race but they haven’t been around what this horse has been around. He just knows what to do.

“I was always going to deal it up to them tonight and he was just too tough for them.”

Rob Heathcote was elated with Buffering’s performance and success in the 2015 Moir Stakes and echoed Browne’s sentiments as to the class and skill of the veteran.

“Just a brilliant performance from Buffering,” Heathcote said after the race.

“He’s eight-years-old and he served it up to them.

“Browne came out and I said Damian, they’re not going to let you cross but we’ve just got to keep going, we’ve just got to drive forward and he did what he does best.

“The horse showed his customary fight, tenacity and kicked on the corner and was too tough!

“Just bringing him back here tonight for us was already a continuation of this wonderful ride that Buffering’s taken us on, and to come back here and win another Group 1 after literally nine months away from racing and an injury we didn’t know he’d come back from.

“Someone asked me today if I was confident and I said I’m confident that Buff will give his best, and when he does you see the result.

“Buffering will tell us when he’s had enough. When he had that injury leading into the Winter Carnival at home I said he has a spell. Every cloud has a silver lining and perhaps that’s extended the longevity of his career.”

In taking out the 2015 Moir Stakes, Buffering has now posted an impressive seventeen wins from a 47 start career which has also included seventeen minor place finishes.