Buffering a QTIS 600 Natural

The boys got their turn on Easter Monday in the Austereo QTIS 600 2YO C&G Handicap 1200m at Eagle Farm, and it was back-to-back impressive performances from Buffering that had punters talking.

Larry Cassidy has connections in a jovial mood, including Socceroos Zeljko Kalac and Craig Moore, after Buffering’s second big QTIS 600 collect (Noel Pascoe photo)

With Easter Saturday’s QTIS 600 race restricted to fillies, the two-year-old colts and geldings took centre stage on April 5, and it was a familiar duo who stole the leftover chocolates on offer.

Trainer Robert Heathcote and jockey Larry Cassidy have hit a purple patch of late recording multiple victories in partnership.

This has been more importantly evident in the lucrative QTIS 600 races with the trainer’s current two-year-old crop producing a string of sterling outings over the past six weeks, and none more so than Buffering.

The two-year-old gelding, by Mossman out of Action Annie, has recorded two victories from only two starts and now boasts an astounding $148,000 in earnings, which includes $84,000 in QTIS 600 and QTIS added stakes.

A number of Buffering’s high profile owners, Socceroo representatives and football officialdom, were on hand to toast his second win from as many starts.

“A couple of the Soccer lads came up from Sydney and they had a ball,” Heathcote said. “Sam Krslovic, Craig Moore and Zeljko Kalac were there…it was a big day out.

“They not only enjoyed the buzz of the win. I keep harking back to it, $74,000 (winner’s cheque) for a two-year-old race in Queensland…you’ve just got to go with it.

“It (QTIS 600) sells itself. I’ve won four of these in the last six or seven weeks, and now it’s like ‘bring it on’.”

Buffering, the $3.30 race favourite, drew barrier four and with Cassidy in charge made the most of a good jump to lead the field around the turn.

The first three to enter the Eagle Farm straight finished in formation, with Buffering looking to pull away from his contenders towards the post.

Impressing Heathcote was the short nine day turnaround by Buffering from his last start victory.

“It was quite a performance because it’s never ideal to back up any horse, particularly second up in a preparation, but with juveniles it’s fraught with danger,” Heathcote said. “I did have a fear that he wouldn’t do it.

“When the barrier came out and it was reasonable that’s when I decided to have another throw with him.

“I was a little surprised a few of the tipsters had written off his form of his previous race where I quinellaed it with him and Cavaliered. They were rating the form of other two-year-old racers better than him.”

Heathcote refers to the pride of the north, Steel Dragon, who beat all before him at Townsville before being transferred to Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich for his right to challenge in the city.

Steel Dragon finished in second place with Daniel Griffin onboard, one and a half lengths behind Buffering after sitting on the shoulder of Heathcote’s charge for the entire trip.

He now boasts $195,800 from six races, including four wins from four outings in Townsville, and has benefited largely from his QTIS 600 registration with $54,000 in race bonuses included.

The two-year-old gelding ran a respectable fourth in the $250,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate at the Gold Coast on March 20 in his first outing in South-East Queensland and looks to have made a home on the metropolitan scene.

Sunshine Coast-based colt Turnitup placed third a further three quarters of a length behind for trainer Troy Hall and jockey Stathi Katsidis.

Heathcote will now give “serious consideration” to a Queensland Winter Racing Carnival campaign for Buffering after giving the gelding more raceday experience in lead-up lucrative QTIS 600 races.

Before he has to worry about the Winter Carnival, Heathcote will visit Sydney for another of his two-year-old stars’ grand adventures.

Hidden Kisses, a filly by Hidden Dragon, will have her fourth outing in the $300,000 Group 1 Sires Produce at Randwick on Saturday, April 10.

Unfortunately, given the partnership the trainer and jockey have formed, Cassidy will miss out on the ride due to suspension. However, he will be ably replaced by Stathi Katsidis.

Heathcote explains his fortunes looking forward from his current crop of two-year-olds. “It’s a huge bonus when you get two-year-olds that can step straight up to the mark, because they’re going to hopefully be in your stable for another four or five years,” he said. “You’ve got a quality horse to have a lot of fun with.”

QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – April 7