Racehorse Buoyant returning from Australia
Buoyant's 13th placing at Caulfield in Melbourne on Saturday prompted Invercargill owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland to call time on the gelding's stay across the ditch.
Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Arrangements are being made to bring Southland-owned Buoyant back from Australia.
Buoyant has been in Victoria for about 18 months but has not produced his best form there. His 13th placing at Caulfield in Melbourne on Saturday prompted Invercargill owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland to call time on the gelding's stay across the ditch.
Kirkland plans to give Buoyant a scintigraphy at Canterbury Equine in Christchurch. The process involves a dye going through his system and it will identify pain and soreness areas.
Kirkland said he would like to start Buoyant in the Stewards Stakes on the last day of the New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton in November.
Buoyant won the Stewards and Hazlett Stakes (Wingatui) in 2022 before leaving for Australia.
The Kirkland-trained Imabuster won a maiden race on the synthetic track at Riccarton last week after racing consistently in 12 previous starts.
Imabuster will start in a rating 65 1600m on the second day of the Grand National meeting at Riccarton on August 7.The second day programme is held on the synthetic track.
Kirkland owns Imabuster with Grand McKenzie and former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.