Buffering named Queensland Horse of the Year

Buffering won a third Queensland Horse of the Year title in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The Group 1 winning son of Vinery sire Mossman topped the poll among 25 judges.  The list of nominees also included top-class gallopers Spirit of Boom, Temple of Boom, River Lad and Solzhenitsyn.

Buffering chalked up three Group 1 victories including the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, VRC Sprint at Flemington and Winterbottom Stakes in Perth.  He was also Group 1 placed in the Moir Stakes, T J Smith, Doomben 10,000 at BTC Cup.

The Rob Heathcote trained gelding also won Queensland’s 4YO & Older Horse of the Year award.

Buffering looked as good as ever winning a half-mile jump-out at Eagle Farm last week in readiness for his first-up assignment in the G1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 26.

“I’m really pleased Buffering won the title,” Heathcote said.  “He joins the all time greats now and I think there’s more to come.  The ultimate aim is Hong Kong in December and I can hardly wait for him to take on the world’s best.

“Buffering is a once in a life time horse and it has been a great ride so far.”

It’s the third Horse of the Year award won by a Mossman galloper in the last couple of weeks.  His G1 Golden Slipper winning filly Mossfun was named co-winner of the NSW 2YO of the Year and Admiral was named Tasmanian 2YO of the Year.