Rob Heathcote believes Buffering can prove he's the real deal by claiming the trainer his third Champagne Classic at Doomben on Saturday.Buffering is unbeaten in four starts, including two over the Champagne Classic trip of 1200 metres.The son of Mossman has never been headed in all four wins and Heathcote hopes the trend will continue given a good barrier draw on Thursday for the Group Two feature."The barrier draw will be crucial but if he doesn't draw well he's still got the speed to offset a

Rob Heathcote believes Buffering can prove he's the real deal by claiming the trainer his third Champagne Classic at Doomben on Saturday.

Buffering is unbeaten in four starts, including two over the Champagne Classic trip of 1200 metres.

The son of Mossman has never been headed in all four wins and Heathcote hopes the trend will continue given a good barrier draw on Thursday for the Group Two feature.

"The barrier draw will be crucial but if he doesn't draw well he's still got the speed to offset a wide barrier," Heathcote said.

Heathcote was a tour leader in Europe 11 years ago before he returned home to take up a new career path as a horse trainer.

With no family background in racing, Heathcote learned his trade by reading books and watching how his peers applied their methods at trackwork.

The hard work paid off last season when Heathcote won his first Brisbane trainers' premiership and he's currently a runaway leader with 40 wins this season, 16 clear of Kelly Schweida and Liam Birchley.

Heathcote is yet to win a Group One but it was in last year's Champagne Classic which he enjoyed his greatest triumph with Funtantes.

He won his first Champagne Classic in 2000 with Chenar when the race was a Group Three.

"I'm hoping for back-to-back wins with Buffering after Funtantes won this race for me last year," Heathcote said.

"There's not a lot of Buffering body-wise but he's a leggy individual.

"I'm looking forward to him coming back a better three-year-old but I'm confident he'll run well on Saturday."

Heathcote has noticed Buffering has developed a quirky attitude in his races.

"He tends to run about a bit when he gets to the front but Larry Cassidy thinks he's waiting for the others to catch him," Heathcote said.

"He's done it in three of his four wins so far and we don't know what he'd do if he's ever headed."

Buffering will head to the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month before Heathcote pulls up stumps for the winter.

"He'll go out for a break after the Sires and come back for the spring races," he said.

"The San Domenico Stakes in Sydney will be one of his first goals."