The final chapter of the career of Buffalo River (USA) was to be written after failing at his most recent start, but a late change of heart resulted in the likeable 7-year-old son of Noble Mission (GB) making the most of a late reprieve in Saturday’s Listed Equine Pathways Lamaro's Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Celine Gaudray for Michael Moroney, Buffalo River led at every call to hold Savannah Cloud (Savabeel) by a neck with a short-head back to Corner Pocket (Toronado) in third.
Moroney said they tinkered with the gear, hoping for a change around.
“We took the earmuffs off him and you can see his lovely white face that you have probably never seen before,” Moroney said
“He had had all his starts before in the earmuffs just to try and relax him. We just thought we would change it as it wasn’t working with him.
“We tried to ride him a little different last start, and that didn’t work. We were going to retire him after his last run, but we thought we would give him one go with the earmuffs off and see what happens.
“It’s a great job by my staff. We have him on the treadmill as well. He’s never been an easy horse to deal with at times. He’s the quietest horse that we have in work to give a pat and a work around, but the minute you get him up to a canter, he’s not the best horse to work.
“But he’s a very talented horse and a real crowd-pleaser because they love to see those horses that can do that and keep going. I thought at the furlong they had him, but he found another gear, which was a good tough win.
“Celine rode him at Sandown and did a terrific job on him and I thought he went really well for her that day. We decided to put Celine back on and give her a chance on the horse as we felt he got on really well with her.”
The winner of the 2021 Group III MRC Moonga Stakes, Buffalo River advances his record to eight wins, eight seconds, and five thirds from 39 starts with earnings of $884,907.
Buffalo River was consigned to the 2018 Tattersalls Horse In Training Sale where Paul Moroney secured the John Gosden-trained colt for 180,000 guineas.
He had a win and three placings from his four starts, including a third behind Godolphin's Royal Marine (Raven's Pass) at Doncaster. That colt won the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp at his next start.
Buffalo River (USA) comes from the first crop of Frankel's brother Noble Mission, who won the Champion Stakes, Tattersalls Gold Cup and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Fashion Insider (Indian Charlie), Buffal River’s dam, is a sister to the Grade II Super Derby winner My Pal Charlie and Grade III winner Bwana Charlie and a half-sister to Grade III winner Bwana Bull (Holy Bull).
