Racing: Buffering wins third group one of spring

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The Buffering train just keeps rolling and the next stop will be the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The nation's new favourite sprinter made it a group one hat-trick with a stirring nose victory in the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.

In what the Herald Sun reports was a bruising encounter, Buffering ($2 favourite) was made to work hard all the way by local champ Barakey and he was left a sitting shot for the Peter Moody-trained Moment Of Change ($7) but had his nose down when it counted.

Watermans Bay ($41) held off a luckless Spirit Of Boom to run third. Barakey weakened to finish ninth.

Trainer Robert Heathcote declared Buffering, for so long the group one bridesmaid, the nation's best sprinter and laid out plans to tackle the Sydney autumn, Brisbane winter and Hong Kong in 2014.

"Buff put his hand up and he goes to the paddock the number one sprinter in the land," Heathcote said.

"It's hard to travel off the fence, half a length in front of one, because they don't get a chance to get into their breathing rhythm.

"Moment Of Change is a genuine group one horse and this is a special moment."

Jockey Damian Browne was full of praise for Buffering.

"To his credit he really dug deep, it was very tough, they didn't want to hand it to us on a plate," Browne said.

Buffering broke his group one maiden in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in October at his 18th attempt at the top level and followed it up with the VRC Sprint Classic on the final day at Flemington before conquering the west.