As he oversees the preparation of Buffering in Hong Kong, trainer Robert Heathcote will be keeping a keen eye on his horses at home.
Four-time Group One winner Buffering will contest the International Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday week while Excellantes and Riva De Lago run in the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben.
The two are among the outsiders in the 1200-metre sprint but Heathcote believes the pair will make their presence felt.
Riva De Lago came to Heathcote from Chris Waller who inherited him from Con Karakatsanis.
“He came to me in fantastic order and we’re hoping the change in routine and scenery will help him get back in form,” Heathcote said.
“All my track riders talk him up. We know when he’s at his best he is very effective and we’re hoping the change in environment will turn him around.”
Excellantes will be running in his third George Moore Stakes having run fourth in his first in 2011 behind Adebisi, one of his rivals again.
At his first run back from a spell, Excellantes was unplaced at Doomben last Saturday week,
“He was a bit disappointing because he didn’t finish it off as I would have liked,” Heathcote said.
“His second-up record is a lot better than his first-up run.
“He is a lovely, big gross horse and usually needs a race to show his best.”
With Damian Browne choosing to ride Cape Kidnappers who is returning from injury, Ryan Wiggins takes the Excellantes mount while Jeff Lloyd is aboard Riva De Lago.
Wiggins has just returned from a two-month stint in Mauritius while Lloyd is back in Queensland after riding in Sydney.
Heathcote lost his Brisbane premiership title last season to Tony Gollan and the pair are neck and neck this term.
Gollan has the favourite in the other feature race at Doomben, the Listed Mode Plate (1200m) with Hijack Hussy trying to add another stakes win to her victory in the Listed Lexus Hybrid (1400m) at Flemington last month.
“She is a very tough filly and came through Melbourne well,” Gollan said.
“The plan is to go on to the Magic Millions Guineas next month.”
Article from justhorseracing.com.au