BUFFERING

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   What? No thread on the old boy? That's sad 
Welcome return: 18yo Buffering back at Rob Heathcote's stables
Ten years since Buffering scored his last Australian Group 1 triumph, Rob Heathcote has turned back time and welcomed the legendary Queensland sprinter back into his Eagle Farm stables.
Buffering famously took 18 tries to win his first Group 1 but then went on an astonishing big race blitz and finished his career as a seven-time Group 1 winner of $7.3 million prizemoney.
His last Group 1 win on Australian soil was in 2015 when scoring his second Winterbottom Stakes in Perth before he soared to international stardom with victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in 2016.
Now 18, Buffering left his retirement paddock on Friday and arrived at Heathcote's Eagle Farm stables for a bit of tender loving care.
"Buffering has been with his owner, Bruce Harry, over at Burbank, and I came and got him to give him a bit of TLC in my stables," Heathcote said.
"We sometimes get him back into my stables to check him out, get the vet to have a look at him, do some work with the farrier and get the dentist to look at him.
"He is 18 and I suppose that's like a human in their early 70s.
"He will stay in my stables for two or three weeks.
"The old boy was an institution, we will give him some exercise, put him on the walker, get him out and give him a pick of grass.
"He gets around all the other horses, I think he quite likes it.
"I think it's a lovely photo of him and Rothfire today."
https://www.racenet.com.au/news/welcome-return-18yo-buffering-back-at-rob-heathcotes-stables-20251128

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Gay3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Location: Miners Rest Status: Offline Points: 55608	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gay3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: BUFFERING Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 4:14pm
	What? No thread on the old boy? That's sad Welcome return: 18yo Buffering back at Rob Heathcote's stables Ten years since Buffering scored his last Australian Group 1 triumph, Rob Heathcote has turned back time and welcomed the legendary Queensland sprinter back into his Eagle Farm stables. Buffering famously took 18 tries to win his first Group 1 but then went on an astonishing big race blitz and finished his career as a seven-time Group 1 winner of $7.3 million prizemoney. His last Group 1 win on Australian soil was in 2015 when scoring his second Winterbottom Stakes in Perth before he soared to international stardom with victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in 2016. Now 18, Buffering left his retirement paddock on Friday and arrived at Heathcote's Eagle Farm stables for a bit of tender loving care. "Buffering has been with his owner, Bruce Harry, over at Burbank, and I came and got him to give him a bit of TLC in my stables," Heathcote said. "We sometimes get him back into my stables to check him out, get the vet to have a look at him, do some work with the farrier and get the dentist to look at him. "He is 18 and I suppose that's like a human in their early 70s. "He will stay in my stables for two or three weeks. "The old boy was an institution, we will give him some exercise, put him on the walker, get him out and give him a pick of grass. "He gets around all the other horses, I think he quite likes it. "I think it's a lovely photo of him and Rothfire today." https://www.racenet.com.au/news/welcome-return-18yo-buffering-back-at-rob-heathcotes-stables-20251128
	It takes a wise man a lifetime to grow a tree and a fool five minutes to kill one.

Second Chance Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Status: Online Points: 56828	Post Options Post Reply Quote Second Chance Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 6:39pm
	Truly marvellous performer. Give the old bloke to Currie and he could arguably win a few more races at his age.

GAJ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 13 Apr 2011 Location: Alstonville,NSW Status: Offline Points: 5184	Post Options Post Reply Quote GAJ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 6:49pm
	That is so good to see, a good going over, thorough medical and back to his home.. God bless..On ya Rob.

slowdown Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Location: Tasmania Status: Offline Points: 11544	Post Options Post Reply Quote slowdown Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 6:59pm
	that is what it is all about. well done Rob
	The Spirit of Zero resuming. Raymond(Midnight) Resuming next week. Lulu (Rising) spelling. Alli - Spelling. Jeffrey spelling. Ambi Boo spelling. Sh'bourne Angel spelling.

brave_ponies Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Status: Offline Points: 7666	Post Options Post Reply Quote brave_ponies Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 8:20pm
	Five-star care for the rest of his life - as it should be! And good on Rob for making it public and setting a fine example. But I can’t think of Buff without thinking of Lordy - hope he’s well wherever he is

Freefall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 04 Dec 2013 Status: Offline Points: 8410	Post Options Post Reply Quote Freefall Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2025 at 9:34pm
	When I first joined TBV Lordy and Buffering were at their zenith. I barracked for both of them as a newbie. 👍👍

Afros Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Location: Ulaanbaatar Status: Offline Points: 19578	Post Options Post Reply Quote Afros Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 2025 at 10:08am
	What a grand old horse he was! This inspired me to have a look at his record again, you forget how consistent he was including 4 G1s with 12 months where he beat all except Black Caviar and Hay List, the BTC Cup as a 3yo, the following springs VRC Sprint Classic, the next autumns Lightning and Newmarket, twice 3rd behind the pair plus a second to each of them alone. I still get a sick feeling in my stomach when I think of that Stradbroke when Linton (another old favourite of mine) got the sucker run down the rails and pinned him when Buffering looked home and hosed! Crazy to think that he had 3 seconds, 4 thirds and 2 fourths in his home town G1 races and never won one of them, yet won 7 at the top level, yet he won 3 Victory Stakes (if you count the middle leg with the same field that didn't carry G2 status, with the original date having been washed out). Speaking of the great horse has anyone got any information on how Lordy is travelling? Last I heard on these forums he was going through some health issues, has anyone heard any more?
	The worlds oldest fossil was discovered in Australia, they named it Rupert Murdoch.

furious Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Status: Offline Points: 30976	Post Options Post Reply Quote furious Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 2025 at 11:55am
	I still remember Black Caviar, Hay List and Buffering all going out at worp speed in one of the Lightnings. She broke them but they held on to place and to be truthful it took a fair bit out of her also. Buffering became the last one standing but what a record he would of had in a different era. Luck I guess!