The Queensland trainer has become a regular on the group 1 train around the country, but, for a long time, it appeared he wouldn't get the top-level success Buffering deserved.

He heads to Randwick for Saturday’s T.J. Smith Stakes with a sprinter which could be racehorse of the year if he can add a fourth group 1 to his resume this season.

However, he is still in awe of others in the game.

“Look, I’m just someone who is new to this industry – I have only been at it about 15 years,” Heathcote said. “I can honestly say this is a lifestyle not a job.

“Before I was a trainer, I was a European travel manager. Now I have fallen into racing and approached it with different eyes. I was willing to play outside the norm. It is how I do things.

“I will always be in awe of the experience of the Cummings, the Smiths and Gai because they have done it all before.

“I’m getting to the point where I have some experience that certain helps you when you have problems in that you can say 'I did this last time that happened'.”

Heathcote remains his own man and you wouldn’t see him at the Easter sales, that is not his scene.

“I was watching on telly the other day, what do they do down there grow $100 bills on trees,” Heathcote said. “The prices are houses ... look I have group 1 horses and they have cost $5000, $10,000 and $22,000, which was Buffering, he was expensive.”

Almost $4 million in prizemoney later, Buffering has taken Heathcote around the country in the golden era of sprinters. He took on Black Caviar and racked up six seconds, four thirds and a fourth in group 1s before winning the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in the spring.

He went on with the job after that in the VRC Sprint and the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth to take his group 1 tally to three.

“It is a tough job, so you have to enjoy horses like Buff because they don’t come along that often,” Heathcote said. “I used to get overawed at group 1s, but now I’m comfortable.

“But I still consider it a privilege to be racing at this level. You have to remember that you could be back at Eagle Farm watching on telly.”

Buffering has delivered Heathcote his best moments on the track and most heartbreaking, particularly his seconds in the Stradbroke, Queensland biggest race.

“I wouldn‘t want to be anywhere else on those days, I was proud of him, when he got beaten like that,” Heathcote said.

“Of course it hurts, but what Buff has done for me and his owners is amazing.

“I never thought I would have a horse like him.  If he wins on Saturday he could be horse of the year. I’m happy winning races in Brisbane, but winning a group 1 is something else.”

Buffering was beaten in the Challenge Stakes at his autumn return and Heathcote doesn’t blame the horse, just himself.

“I had him underdone and I have beaten myself up about it,” Heathcote said.

“Maybe he was in the wrong part of the track, but I didn’t have him right at the top of his game.

“We went home and he has been working really well. He gets to the beach of an afternoon and he is just happy.

“He is right where I want him, whether that is good enough to win we will find out on Saturday.

“It is the grand final of sprinting and whoever wins it will probably be the heir to Black Caviar and the best in the country.”

Heathcote has great respect for favourite Lankan Rupee but doesn’t run from the challenge.

“I was watching him in Melbourne and he was clearly the best sprinter,” he said.

“He was very dominant in the Oakleigh Plate and then good in the Newmarket, but he steps up to weight-for-age and it is a different beast.

“Buff is going to have to be at the top of his game to beat him.”

Heathcote in his matter of fact manner wasn’t hiding anything when it comes to tactics in the TJ.

“Buff rolls forward and that's what he will do on Staurday,” Heathcote said. “He will cross Lankan Rupee and then he will have to be good enough to beat him because he won’t lie down.”