Buffering's spring campaign is taking shape after his impressive win in a Doomben barrier trial on Tuesday.

Ridden by Damian Browne, Buffering trialled without his customary blinkers, but held a comfortable 1-1/4 length margin over his stablemate Fire Up Fifi in an 820m heat.

"He led comfortably and Damian gave him a little bit of a shake up down the running but never really asked him to extend," trainer Robert Heathcote said.

"Damian felt he did enough and it was more or less a good solid fitness hit-out."

The six-year-old clocked 49.38secs, with a final 600m sectional time of 33.35secs.

"He definitely needed the hit-out this morning," Heathcote said.

"He had a good blow afterwards and pulled up a little bit big but that was to be expected."

Buffering will resume in the Group One A J Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 27 which he won last year when it was a Group Two event.

After last year's Moir victory, Buffering won the Group Two Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield but that race is unlikely to be on his agenda this year.

Heathcote believes the Schillaci, as well as innoculations for a planned Hong Kong trip, took a toll on Buffering in his remaining two starts in Melbourne when he performed below expectations in the Manikato Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic.

"I really want to target the Group Ones because he races so well fresh and a month between the Moir and Manikato will be ideal," he said.

"Sure the Schillaci is worth a hundred grand to the winner but do we do more harm than good to the horse by running him in it?"

Heathcote was also pleased with the barrier trial performances of Fire Up Fifi and Solzhenitsyn who will resume at Rosehill on Saturday week.