Colt takes aim at Stakes
Trainer Smith backs Buenos Noches to deliver
A LAST-START showdown with subsequent The Everest hero Giga Kick instilled further confidence in trainer Matthew Smith that his emerging colt Buenos Noches has what it takes to win Saturday’s Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
No horse has come closer than Buenos Noches to toppling the unbeaten Giga Kick after the three-year-olds fought out a stirring battle up the Flemington straight in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes on October 1.
Giga Kick came out on top in that thrilling duel by a nostril and the Clayton Douglastrained sprint weapon was picked up by James Harron in his slot for the world’s richest race on turf shortly after.
The rest is now history as Giga Kick went on to snatch a famous win in The Everest as Buenos Noches prepared for his own date with destiny in the Coolmore.
“It was unbelievable really,” Smith said.
“I wasn’t sure how he would run in The Everest that horse but they were pretty confident he would run really good and he did.
“With him going to the Champions Sprint, you would think it would be between Jacquinot, In Secret and my horse for the Coolmore now and there probably isn’t a great deal between them.
“It will come down to luck in running and barriers but Buenos Noches is in the mix with them and certainly hasn’t gone backwards.
“He looks great.”
Smith brought Buenos Noches back to Sydney after his Danehill Stakes placing and gave him a trial last Friday at Rosehill to keep him up to the mark for the Coolmore.
He was given a strong workout over 1030m, finishing third behind Saturn Star and Lost And Running in the heat.
The smart son of Supido can deliver Smith his sixth
Group 1 winner in the Coolmore and the first three-yearold major of his training career.
“He‘s the best sprinting three-year-old I’ve ever had,” Smith said. “I haven‘t had many that are sharp like he is and he’s got a good brain on him too. He’s level-headed.
“He wants to do things the right way and I think he will be an even better horse next preparation, he really will. “He‘s not that physically mature but he will be in 12 months time.”
TAB have Buenos Noches on the third line of betting for the Coolmore Stud Stakes at $5 with Godolphin’s In Secret ($3.50 fav) narrowly shading Golden Rose winner Jacquinot ($4).