Stable Favourite Retires

60 starts - nine wins, nine seconds, nine thirds. Over $1.48 million in stakes.

The stellar career of Buffalo River who, at the age of nine, has been retired leaving behind many great memories for his owners, followers and everyone at the stables.

We are proud not only of the horse but proud to retire him sound as a bell - ready for another career under the loving care of Celine Gaudray who as aboard him for two of his wins including his most recent - the 2023 Gr.3 Moonga Stakes.

Having also won that Caulfield 1400m feature in 2021 as well as the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes, the horse affectionately known as "Buffy" had earned a high rating, making him harder to place in recent times.

But he had retained his zest for racing, free-rolling out in the lead at his finale at Flemington last weekend; tiring late but hardly disgraced and in cheeky fashion again in front 50m after the line!

"He has been a couple of lengths from his best," Michael Moroney said, "and it is getting harder and harder to place him."

"He has done a great job for us and it has been a long time since I have trained a sounder horse, one who has lasted that long."

Nearly five years in fact, Buffalo River kicking off his career with a second in a two-year-old contest at Sandown Park in August 2018.

In the placings at his next two starts, he was a Kempton Park winner over 1400m at the last of his UK runs.

Placed in a Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale, he caught the eye of Paul Moroney who was able to secure the Kentucky bred son of Frankel's multiple Gr.1 winning brother Noble Mission for 180,000 guineas.

He hit the ground running for Ballymore Stables, at his first three local starts from May to July 2019, Buffalo River keen but too good recording smart all the way victories at Ballarat, Sandown and Flemington.

At his second local campaign he won two in a row at Caulfield and Sandown before proving himself up to the best of Melbourne's milers with a second to Mr Quickie in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap.

He continued to race honestly and well and his first stakes win in the Moonga Stakes was a well deserved one over another grand campaigner in King Magnus.

Making interstate trips to New South Wales and Queensland, Buffalo River always raced well and was often in the best of company with one of his best runs being a game third behind Mr Brightside in the 2022 Gr.3 Peter Lawrence Stakes.

And in last year's Gr.1 Futurity Stakes he had to do a bit of work from a wide gate and his third behind Mr Brightside that day was a particularly gallant effort as was his next start fourth in the All-Star Mile behind Pride Of Jenni, Mr Brightside and Cascadian - elite company!

Despite not managing a win in his last campaign, Buffalo River added nearly $100,000 to his impressive prize money tally and was able to earn further black-type with a game third in the Listed Barton Stakes at Sandown in late January.

"It is really unusual to have one stay sound through as many starts," Michael said.

"He always came through his races well, and he always enjoyed it - and he put everything into it too."

"In the later part of his career we worked him on a treadmill as he was going just too hard out on the track and that worked really well for him."

"He is a horse we will never forget, he was an owner pleaser and a crowd pleaser with the way he raced and the staff loved him."

"We are so happy that he is going to Celine who has always loved him and we are happy to have had the opportunity to train him."

[17 Feb 25]

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