Popular sprinter Buffering finally realised his trainer’s Group One dreams in the spring but Robert Heathcote admits it was a winter of discontent.

Buffering began the season as a nine-time Group One placegetter in races usually won by Black Caviar or Hay List.

In their absence, he finally broke through in the Manikato Stakes and followed up with victory in the VRC Sprint and the Winterbottom Stakes.

By the time the autumn came around, Lankan Rupee had arrived on the scene and Buffering finished third behind the new star in their first meeting in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.

He returned home to Brisbane but again could only manage third in the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000 and needed chiropractic treatment for soreness around the poll region at the base of his skull.

But that is behind him now and Heathcote is convinced he can again be a Group One force in the spring.

“He goes into pre-training on Monday and is on a collision course with Lankan Rupee during the spring,” Heathcote said.

“He was off his game a bit in the winter but he still ran three thirds in Group One races.

“The TJ Smith was when he only started to get back on his game and going into the 10,000 was the first time I could see he was right.

“I’m as excited about Buff as I have ever been.

“He is a horse who is always up for the fight. He cost $20,000 and he’s won 4-1/2 million dollars.

“There aren’t many horses that do that.

“He will be up for another stoush with Lankan Rupee.”

The two are scheduled to meet each other in the Manikato Stakes at their second starts in the spring with Lankan Rupee to resume in the Mcewan Stakes, and Buffering going first-up to the Moir Stakes.

Irish star Slade Power, who has cemented his position as Europe’s best sprinter with victory in the July Cup, will add another dimension to the VRC sprint at Flemington.

The race will be stud-bound Slade Power’s swan song while Lankan Rupee and Buffering have both been inoculated with the Hong Kong International Sprint in December a target for both.