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The question does come to mind after witnessing the Buff and his outstanding win in the Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) on the weekend at Meydan, beating home the world’s best and doing it with authority.
No horse who will ever come close to Black Caviar in terms of sprinters. Saying anything different would be more silly than tipping Collingwood against Sydney last Saturday night.
But post-Black Caviar, racing fans not just in Australia but across the world, are appreciating just how good this little bulldog is and what he produces every time he steps out.
You go back through his form and you can understand why he has been a bulldog. He started his career as a two-year-old in late March 2010 and won his first four starts before running third in the Champagne Classic (1200m) behind subsequent Group 1 winner Pressday.
He was a very busy three-year-old also, racing 11 times, winning on three occasions, placing on a further four occasions, including behind Black Caviar in the BTC Cup, and running fourth in another three races.
Buffering came back as a four-year-old to win first-up at the Valley before bumping into Sepoy and Black Caviar during the spring, with his placing behind the latter in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m). That was the last time he faced the great mare just under three lengths away. He then placed behind Foxwedge and Hay List at Group 1 level before returning home for the Brisbane winter where he ran mighty seconds in the 10,000 and Stradbroke.
We thought his Group 1 duck would be vanquished after two impressive wins to kick off his five-year-old season, but Buffering copped too much pressure in the Manikato before being disappointing behind Mental in the Patinack Farm. He dodged the autumn and was specifically targeted for the winter. He couldn’t lift his feet behind Your Song in the BTC Cup before placings in the 10,000 and Stradbroke, and you just wondered if it was ever going to happen for Buff.
That all changed in the Manikato. After a well-beaten second to Samaready in the Moir, Buffering was sent out at attractive odds to win the Manikato, but a peach on speed steer from Damian Browne got the champ home for a well deserved major, beating home Lucky Nine, who at the time was the best sprinter in the world.
When you get one, you may as well get another, and that’s what Buffering did when taking out the VRC Sprint Classic, then ventured off to Ascot in Perth for the Winterbottom, where he won narrowly and had to survive a protest.
With the introduction of the Championships, the TJ Smith is now worth $2.5 million and that is a carrot too good to ignore. Buffering was disappointing first-up in the Challenge before running a courageous third to Lankan Rupee in the TJ Smith. His seven-year-old season focused on the Hong Kong International Sprint. He ran a gallant fourth to Terravista in the Darley Classic before doing Australia proud at Sha Tin with a gutsy sixth to Aerovelocity, beaten just under four lengths.
Buffering was being set towards the Winter Carnival last year, but injury struck him bad and there was talk that he would be retired. But he overcome that and resumed in the Moir where he ran along in front and showed great heart for another outstanding Group 1 victory. He then ran fifth to Chautauqua in the Manikato before running a close-up fourth to Delectation in the Darley Classic. Trainer Rob Heathcote then sent him over to Perth again for the Winterbottom, and despite being aided by track bias, he was dominant.
He was given a little break before surpassing the $6 million mark with a tough win in the Magic Millions QTIS race, where he had to carry 61.5 kilograms over 1300 metres, which isn’t his distance, but he still did it.
Then of course came the weekend at Meydan, where he looked to be bolting outside Hong Kong star Peniaphobia before quickly beating him off and showing those usual Buffering qualities over the final 200 metres, and on the line, he was getting clear of them.
He won’t be regarded as the best sprinter Australia has produced. He will be the second best. But in terms of toughness and longevity, he clearly stands alone on the podium and all that is required now on the CV is a Group 1 in front of his home fans. All things being equal, he will definitely be doing that.
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