A deliberate decision to play a low-key role with Kiwi galloper Firebolt during the winter in Queensland could reap rewards in Sydney this spring.Trainer Roger James plans to send Firebolt across the Tasman for the Group One Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 1 if the five-year-old comes up this preparation in his homeland."He's back in work and is thriving," James said."If I'm happy with him he'll go to Sydney for the Epsom."James plans to start Firebolt in the Group One Mudgway Stakes at Ha

A deliberate decision to play a low-key role with Kiwi galloper Firebolt during the winter in Queensland could reap rewards in Sydney this spring.

Trainer Roger James plans to send Firebolt across the Tasman for the Group One Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 1 if the five-year-old comes up this preparation in his homeland.

"He's back in work and is thriving," James said.

"If I'm happy with him he'll go to Sydney for the Epsom."

James plans to start Firebolt in the Group One Mudgway Stakes at Hastings later this month but is concerned bad weather could disrupt his schedule.

"I'm looking at the Mudgway Stakes with him here and if not there's a race a week later at Ellerslie," he said.

"The weather is a bit of a concern at the moment and I have to just trial him here before I send him to Sydney.

"He should get a reasonable weight in a race like the Epsom."

The Group One Mudgway Stakes (1400m) will be run on August 28.

Firebolt started only four times during the Brisbane winter carnival but left with a huge reputation after two wins.

The son of Stravinsky looked capable of winning in much stronger company after scoring an all-the-way win in restricted class over 1630 metres at Doomben in May.

He was then judged by stewards to have been afforded a fair start after tailing the field home in the Listed Strawberry Road (1600m) won by Our Lukas at Eagle Farm on June 12.

Firebolt was on his best barrier behaviour next appearance when runner-up to Pennacchio in the Listed Centenary Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June before blowing his rivals away in an 1800-metre class six victory at the same track on July 10.

Meanwhile, Queensland three-year-old Buffering arrived safely in Sydney on Wednesday for his assignment in the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

"He arrived at Grahame Begg's stables about 3am and had a 45-minute stopover at Kempsey on the way down," trainer Rob Heathcote said.

"He's in excellent order. He had his final gallop at Eagle farm on Tuesday before he went down and he'll only need pacework before Saturday.

"The track is slow for Warwick Farm and more rain is forecast for Friday but he'll be competitive."

Buffering, an impressive first-up winner at Eagle Farm on August 11, could stay on in Sydney for the next month's Listed Heritage Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill or head to Melbourne for the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.