Buffering will have his first serious hitout since recovering from a hoof problem at Flemington on Friday.

Trainer Robert Heathcote said Buffering had made good progress since he pulled up lame following his second to Samaready in the Group One Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.

"I'm flying to Melbourne in the morning and I've decided after last Saturday's trackwork to give him an 800 metre jump out at Flemington on Friday," Heathcote said.

"From what I'm led to believe it's going to be a red hot session with Lucky Nine and Shamexpress likely to go around."

Heathcote is unsure if Buffering carried the hoof injury into the Moir but acknowledged he was beaten fair and square by Samaready.

"I make no excuses for the horse," he said.

"He ran a blinder in a Group One, only to be beaten by a star.

"Samaready may well be the best sprinter in the land. She was dominant."

Heathcote said Buffering will still prove a worthy opponent for Samaready in the Manikato.

"It looks like being a cracking race but with Buffering, what you see is what you get," he said.

"He's got just as good a record second-up as he has first-up and we're happy with him now. He's 100 per cent sound."

Buffering is seeking his first Group One win after 10 placings at that level.