A determined display resulted in Buffering holding off a late challenge from Moment Of Change to claim the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes. Buffering began quickly and gradually worked to the lead, without crossing to the rails (with Barakey on his inside). He took a clear lead approaching the 250m and then held on grimly to just win in a very close photo finish. Moment Of Change had a good run about fourth (with cover) most of the way to the turn. He switched wide rounding the home turn, went to second at the 200m and continued to finish well to just miss in very close finish. Watermans Bay was last on the rails in the 12-horse field to the turn. He angled for an inside run on straightening, got a good run through from the 200m point and ran on well for third, beaten length and half. Spirit Of Boom held his position from his inside barrier (1) and was third on the rails in the early stages. There was crowding nearing the 600m and he was badly checked. But he recovered to be in a challenging position at the 200m and then kept battling on quite well to hold fourth, beaten a length and three quarters. WA star Barakey led early and held second place (with Buffering on his outside) from the 700m until the 300m, but he tired from that point to finish ninth, beaten just under five lengths. *ANZ