Buffering gets the better of Lankan Rupee
Buffering landed a blow for the old guard in Friday night’s Group One Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley, inflicting a second straight defeat for star sprinter Lankan Rupee.
While the hype around Lankan Rupee saw Buffering go into the race as somewhat of a forgotten horse, the Queenslander showed there was still plenty of fight left in the old bulldog.
Damian Browne rated the race to perfection out in front and called on all of Buffering’s fighting qualities to hold off Lankan Rupee and Rebel Dane.
Robert Heathcote and the horse’s large team of owners were beside themselves with another Group One under the belt and never lost faith that their horse was still the testing material.
“It looked like he was going to go down there but he’s just a little bulldog,” Heathcote said.
“It’s just great to have him back because I thought he was off his game back in the autumn.
“He’s seven now and I reckon he could go on till 10, but another three years of this … I don’t know how I’d cope.”
A second straight defeat for Lankan Rupee has taken the gloss of his rating as the world’s best sprinter, a title that does not sit well with some of his rivals.
“Everyone’s forgotten about Buffering. He won three Group Ones last year too,” Browne said.
Heathcote said there was no plan to run Buffering again until the Manikato Stakes in four weeks’ time, when he will face a rematch with Lankan Rupee, Rebel Dane and the impressive Sydneysider Terravista.
Mick Price was philosophical in defeat, conceding Lankan Rupee was beaten by a better horse on the night.
“I think he races best at the bigger tracks like Flemington and Caulfield, but I can’t avoid the races here at Moonee Valley,” he said.
“We have the Manikato in four weeks and I won’t be shying away from that.”
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