Buffering stars on Stradbroke Day

Star sprinter Buffering made his fourth appearance at Eagle Farm on a Stradbroke Handicap day, but this time as a non-racing box office attraction for the 20,000-plus crowd.

The redeveloped Eagle Farm reopened after 22 months with 180 runners but there was only one horse racegoers wanted to see.

Buffering was honoured for his Group One wins in the Dubai Al Quoz Sprint, Melbourne Moir Stakes, Perth Winterbottom Stakes and the Magic Millions QTIS race this season.

The gelding was in stall one near the main gate and was available for patrons to snap photographs before parading in the saddling enclosure after the fourth race.

The Brisbane Race Club also opened a new bar named in Buffering’s honour at the eastern end of the public grandstand.

Buffering ran fourth in the 2011 Stradbroke and then was second the next two years but connections dodged the past two Stradbrokes in favour of preparing for a spring carnival.

Bet with Crownbet

The eight-year-old is the winner of seven Group One races and returned to Brisbane last week after spending a fortnight in quarantine in Melbourne.

Buffering was injured when last in the Hong Kong Chairman’s Sprint Prize on May 1 and spent two weeks in Hong Kong before heading to Melbourne’s quarantine facility.

“It is great to get him here to Eagle Farm on such an important day. Buffering is a real people’s champion and you can see from the crowd today how much they love him,” trainer Robert Heathcote said.

He said Buffering was doing well but couldn’t predict the gelding’s race future or whether he would race again.

“It is far too early to say anything but there are some options in the Melbourne spring, West Australian summer or our Magic Millions carnival,” Heathcote said.

“I am sure they would rename the Moir Stakes the Buffering Stakes if he could win it for a fourth time. He loves Perth and the Million carnival is made for him.

“But naturally the horse will come first. He owes us nothing.”

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