Buffering In Good Order For Hong Kong Trip

The final boxes will be ticked this week ahead of Buffering's trip to Hong Kong for the International Sprint.

The Queensland champion will be given a thorough veterinary examination on Wednesday and a gallop on Friday.

Rather than take him home to Brisbane, trainer Robert Heathcote left the seven-year-old in work at Flemington in Melbourne after the Darley Classic earlier this month.

The four-time Group One winner finished fourth in that race behind Terravista, Chautauqua and Lankan Rupee with those horses ranked the top three sprinters in the world in the latest international rankings.

Heathcote is genuinely excited about Buffering's chance to perform on the world stage.

"It has been a wonderful trip with Buff and if any horse deserves a chance to shine on the international scene it is him," Heathcote said.

"He has had his shots and the vet will go over Buffering completely on Wednesday. It is to make certain that the Hong Kong Jockey Club isn't wasting its money."

Heathcote said Buffering would leave for Hong Kong on December 1.

"I will then head up on December 3 to oversee his final lead-up," Heathcote said.

The five-time Brisbane premiership winning trainer had a double at Doomben on Saturday and maintains a 29-28 lead over Tony Gollan who wrested the title from him last season.

Buffering's opponents in the Sprint at Sha Tin on December 14 will include Irish horse Gordon Lord Byron, a Group One winner of the George Ryder Stakes in Sydney in March.

Australia's other representative at the Hong Kong meeting, Criterion, will have a gallop later this week.

The Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby winner was transferred from David Payne to David Hayes after his fifth in the Mackinnon Stakes.

He is entered for the Hong Kong Cup (2000m).