Photo by Racing and Sports
Tuesday, 21 February 2012: Saturday's Lightning Stakes second placing reaffirmed Hay List's public status as Australia's unluckiest horse, but Queensland's leading trainer Robert Heathcote possesses a much different view.
He treaded on familiar territory during the race, watching his star sprinter Buffering run a gallant third behind Black Caviar and Hay List, just like in last year's Doomben BTC Cup.
The inevitable Lightning Stakes (1000m) quinella left Heathcote still searching for his maiden Group One triumph.
“It's funny how it works, people were saying the other day how unlucky Hay List is because he's run second to the good mare four times,” Heathcote said.
“I counter that by saying yeah and he's won three Group Ones and I haven't won any.
“I would've won three if it wasn't for those two. At the end of the day you've got to be in it to win it and I'm privileged to have horses good enough to compete on the big stage.”
The race was Buffering's first since running second to Black Caviar in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) over the spring.
He finished four lengths adrift on Saturday, but Heathcote was delighted with his gelding's performance.
“Let's not take anything away, he ran 56.06 [seconds] - one of my owners worked it out that that would have won 18 of the last 20 runnings of the Lightning,” Heathcote said.
“The simple facts are my fella's not as good as Hay List and Black Caviar but he's probably up there in the top half dozen in the country.
“He puts in every time and he's run 56.06, she's run 55.4, that's how good she is.
“She's the [Chris] Judd of the racing world. She floats across the world and just seems to have everything in the right place, and it's good for the game.
“She stops the nation that mare. Even for seasoned race goers and hardened old gritty trainers that have been in it their whole lives.
“Love her or hate her she's just something to behold. Even though she's beaten me and cost me accolades and lots of cash at the end of the day I'm privileged to be around to watch her.”
Heathcote and Buffering will get their chance at Group One glory in next month's Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington, with neither Black Caviar nor Hay List being aimed at the race.
He'll then head to Sydney for the William Reid Stakes (1200m) and another potential clash with Hay List before floating home for some of Queensland's major sprint races.
