Multiple Group 1 winners and hardened war-horses Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) and Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), both previous winners of the G1 Manikato S., will be aiming to hold the G1 Golden Slipper winner and 2-year-old champion Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) at bay on Friday night in the A$1-million G1 Manikato S. (1200m) on Cox Plate eve at Moonee Valley.
While none of the trio has proved successful as yet this campaign, their ability have them as three of the top four in the betting, with the other, the 4-year-old mare English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), aiming to give co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott their second elite level success in Melbourne after the G1 Thousand Guineas win of Global Glamour (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}).
Beaten into fourth place behind exciting dual Group 1-winning colt Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the G1 Moir S. first-up this time in, Chautauqua probably found the 1000 metres a little too short that night, rattling home from the tail to finish just over three lengths off the winner.
Never missing a place second-up, the 6-year-old was all class in the Manikato 12 months back, defeating Srikandi (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) by two lengths with Rebel Dane (Aus) (California Dane {Aus}), who he will meet again here, a nose back in third.
Fifth behind Extreme Choice in the Moir S. after working extremely hard throughout the race, Buffering does have a very good record at the track and distance with three wins, and will be lining up for sixth consecutive start in the race, having recorded victory over Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2013 as his best result.
Although taking on some of Australia's best sprinters, Peter and Paul Snowden's Capitalist was the class 2-year-old of his year, and while he has yet to taste victory at three, the valuable colt looks to be an outstanding chance on the limit weight, with the in-form Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
A Group 1 winner over 1400 metres, talented mare English has finished fifth and fourth, respectively, at her two runs back this time in, on both occasions to Takedown (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}), with that winner finishing second last time out behind the super Impressive Star Turn (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), who himself would not look out of place in the Manikato field.
If Godolphin's 4-year-old Holler (Aus) (Commands (Aus) has come through his disappointing effort at Royal Ascot in June, where he was down the track in the G1 Diamond Jubilee, the James McDonald-ridden Group 1 winner could prove hard to catch, as he has plenty of tactical speed and is a Group 2 winner over the course and distance in the past.
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