Black Caviar's absence from this year's spring carnival and beyond could provide star Queensland sprinter Buffering with his first chance to race overseas.
While Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote said Melbourne plans for Buffering would be unaffected by Tuesday's announcement about Black Caviar's immediate future, the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December was now a realistic target race.
Black Caviar has been ruled out of the spring carnival - and an end-of-year Hong Kong start.
"With Black Caviar not going to be there, I think Hong Kong very much comes into the reckoning for him now," said Heathcote.
Heathcote said an upcoming Melbourne spring campaign for Buffering had the potential for at least two clashes with Black Caviar if the unbeaten mare was put back into work.