Buffering’s little brother wins on debut

Two-year-old Downloading has started his career in the same vein as his elder brother, star sprinter Buffering, with a debut win at Doomben.

And to complete a trip down memory lane for Robert Heathcote, Damn Fine, a son of a mare he trained, Princess Qualo, took the other juvenile race on Wednesday.

A $75,000 buy at last year’s Magic Millions sale, Downloading ($2.80 fav) led all the way to win the Shannons Air Plate (1050m).

Buffering, who has racked up seven Group One wins, won his first race at Doomben in March 2010.

Downloading, who is by Love Conquers All, and Buffering, whose sire is Mossman, are both out of Action Annie.

“Of course Downloading has a long way to go but I always felt he would be better for today’s run. In fact I really thought he wouldn’t be winning until he was three,” Heathcote said.

“But he has continued to improve and it is good because a lot of Buffering’s owners are in him as well.”

Damn Fine ($5), who is by Choisir, was having his third start when he won the Brandon’s Electrical Plate (1050m).

His dam Princess Qualo was one of Heathcote’s stable favourites when she raced more than a decade ago.

“She was very good but had a few issues including back problems and never reached her full potential but she won a couple of handy city races,” he said.

Damn Fine is raced by his breeders, Canberra businessmen Sam Sergi and Jim Douros, who made the trip to Doomben on Wednesday.

One of Australia’s most famous sets of racing colours, worn by three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, was in the winner’s circle when Nautilus ($4) took the Cool Air Three Year old (2000m).

Makybe Diva’s owner Tony Santic shares in Nautilus’s ownership with Greg Ingham who has several horses with winning trainer Paul Duncan.

“I’ve had a bit of luck for Greg with horses including Blue Lion. I am hoping Tony will come in with Greg on an All Too Hard horse I recently bought in Sydney,” Duncan said.

Continuing the Melbourne Cup theme Sheila Laxon, who won the big race with Ethereal in 2001, led in Mewstone Rock, winner of the Garden City Plate (1600m).

“Mewstone Rock is a half sister to a very good horse I trained named Royal Mephisto and I was waiting to get her out to 1600 metres or further,” she said.

“The new Buff!” one owner shouts as Buffering’s 3/4 brother DOWNLOADING wins on debut at Doomben pic.twitter.com/JL4Qu8wr6T

— Racing Queensland (@racing_qld) June 22, 2016

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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