READY FOR A NEW EVEREST MISSION
Trainer Matthew Smith has two ambitions with Buenos Noches this year – to win a Group 1 race and secure another start in The Everest.
Buenos Noches begins the path to achieving both goals when he resumes in the Group 2 $300,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Smith’s star sprinter has been installed a $2 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds to make a winning return to racing with champion jockey Nash Rawiller booked for the ride.
Buenos Noches has been readied for the Expressway with two barrier trials, the most recent when closing late for third behind Palmetto over 1000m. “His work has been very good and he’s trialling well. I can’t fault him, he is flying. I feel he has come back better, the horse is going super,” Smith said. “After the Expressway, the plan is to go to the (Group 1) Newmarket Handicap next. He’s very effective down the (Flemington) straight.’’
Smith plans to bring Buenos Noches back to Sydney to continue the sprinter’s autumn campaign with the Group 1 $3m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 6, Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick a logical target.
“We will see what happens after that,’’ Smith said. “I do think he might be better over further than 1200m and we are looking at the (Group 1) All Aged Stakes over 1400m later in the autumn but that’s a long way away.’’
Buenos Noches won the Show County Quality first-up last spring and earned a start in The Everest when he ran eighth. But Buenos Noches proved he can mix it with the nation’s best sprinters when he ran Imperatriz to a half length in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington.