Rob Heathcote’s stable stars Buffering and Solzhenitsyn came back into full-work yesterday on their way to the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Heathcote, Brisbane's leading trainer, this afternoon told racingvictoria.net.au both horses had returned to his stable yesterday after five-week breaks, and they were being set for campaigns in Melbourne.
“They had their first morning back and they look in sensational order,” Heathcote said.
“I could not be any happier.”
Buffering hasn’t been seen on a racetrack since his brave second behind the John Sadler-trained Linton in the $1.36 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 8.
Buffering, who will be contesting his fourth Melbourne Spring Carnival, has been set for the Group 1 $450,000 Moir Stakes (1200m), the $1 million Manikato Stakes (1200m) and the $1 million Patinack Farm Classic (1200m).
Last year Buffering won both the Moir Stakes and the Schillaci Stakes.
Heathcote said Solzhenitsyn, a last start fifth in the Stradbroke, would resume in the Group 2 Theo Marks at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on September 13, before coming to Melbourne.
He will run in the same races in Melbourne that he did last year – the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the Waterford Crystal Mile and the Emirates Stakes.
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