The Mike Moroney stable will have a two-pronged attack on one of the feature races on Easter Saturday at Sandown.
Buffalo River will run first-up in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) in which he will be joined by last start winner Not An Option.
US-bred Buffalo River has not raced since finishing seventh in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), but Moroney said the seven-time winner from 33 starts was in good order for his return.
Moroney wonders however whether the seven-year-old, now being an older horse, has done enough work for his first-up tilt.
"Buffalo is always good fresh up and he gives you a good sight in front," Moroney said.
"He seems really good, and he's trialled up nice enough. I'm happy with him.
"But he's his own worst enemy. He's a leader and everyone knows that so they can plan to beat him.
"And he's getting older, so I hope I've done enough with him, but being older you wonder if you have done enough, but he looks well."
Buffalo River's last victory came in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in October 2021.
Moroney concedes that Group 3 level is possibly his mark now after the gelding had just failed to claim a Group 1 win when second to Mr Quickie in the 2020 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
"This is probably his mark," Moroney said of Saturday's Group 3 contest.
"He's a Group 2, Group 3 sort of horse. He has been competitive in those Group 1's in handicaps, but he did find the Group 1's just a little bit tough for him, especially in recent times."
While it has been 18 months since Buffalo River last tasted success, Not An Option recorded a comfortable win over fellow Victoria Handicap acceptor Cardinal Gem over 1400m at Flemington on March 25.
"He's coming off a nice win and hopefully he can string it together," Moroney said.
"He hasn't been able to as a rule and needs things going his way, but he's got the talent."
FP | Silk | Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam |
Jockey Trainer |
SP
WT |
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1st |
7. CARDINAL GEM (AUS) 4yo G CHOISIR (AUS) - ELOQUENT RUBY (AUS) |
JORDAN CHILDS GRAHAME BEGG |
$3
54kg |
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D M D B Syndicate (Mgr: D Mcinerney), Dundas Sports (Mgr: J Morgan), Dream Date Racing No. 6 (Mgr: E Antonucci), The Cumberland Group (Mgr: R Joynes), Barkley St Racing (Mgr: N O'brien), Ms M Caliste, R Caudwell, D Oliphant, T Prodromou, W Tahche, A J Duguid, C Barrile, W Smart & C Moir | |||||||||||
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2nd |
4. FRANKIE PINOT (AUS) 6yo G YOUR SONG (AUS) - MY LAST FLING (AUS) |
MADISON LLOYD T & C MCEVOY |
$14
54.5kg |
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J S McDonnell, Mrs A McDonnell & Team McDonnell (Mgr: J S McDonnell) | |||||||||||
3rd |
5. LADY OF HONOUR (AUS) 4yo M NO NAY NEVER (USA) - MAJESTY (AUS) |
HARRY COFFEY BEN & JD HAYES |
$11
54kg |
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Coolmore (Mgr: T V Magnier) & P Shanahan | |||||||||||
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4th |
8. PINSTRIPED (AUS) 4yo G STREET BOSS (USA) - SNITZEL BLITZ (AUS) |
ALANA KELLY ENVER JUSUFOVIC |
$7
54kg |
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5th |
6. NOT AN OPTION (AUS) 5yo G NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - CHINTZ (NZ) |
PATRICK MOLONEY MICHAEL MORONEY |
$11
54kg |
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6th |
3. BUFFALO RIVER (USA) 7yo G NOBLE MISSION (GB) - FASHION INSIDER (USA) |
DANIEL STACKHOUSE MICHAEL MORONEY |
$5
54.5kg |
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7th |
2. AYRTON (NZ) 5yo G IFFRAAJ (GB) - ODESSA (NZ) |
DAMIEN OLIVER MICK PRICE & MICHAEL KENT JNR |
$6.5
56kg |
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8th |
12. VONGOLE (AUS) 7yo G SQUAMOSA (AUS) - PARORE (NZ) |
MS CARLEEN HEFEL ENVER JUSUFOVIC |
$61
54kg |
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9th |
11. FORBIDDEN CITY (AUS) 4yo M I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - PALACE TALK (NZ) |
LINDA MEECH PETER G MOODY |
$31
54kg |
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10th |
1. CALLSIGN MAV (NZ) 6yo G ATLANTE (AUS) - RAADISI (NZ) |
CRAIG NEWITT DANNY O'BRIEN |
$21
60kg |
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