‘He’s in the right form’: Trainer Matthew Smith has Buenos Noches primed for Group 1 Newmarket Handicap

Trainer Matthew Smith has Buenos Noches primed to strike in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

Buenos Noches (right) runs second to Imperatriz in the Champions Sprint.

Trainer Matthew Smith has Buenos Noches “in the right form” to strike in Saturday’s $1.5m Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Dual Group 1-placed stallion prospect Buenos Noches will race in blinkers for the first time, having worked well in the shades.

“He’s a very laid back colt and seems to be always just travelling in his races, so we thought apply the blinkers and Blake (Shinn) seemed very happy,” Smith said.

“It would be good if he could race a couple of lengths closer … not have the opposition and better horses three and four lengths in front of you.”

Buenos Noches has won three of 12 starts and banked $1.9m prizemoney.

“I’m sure he can get it on the (Group 1) board but they’re very hard to win,” Smith said.

“I think he’s in the right form this time in to do it, so fingers crossed he can.”

Queen of the sprint 👑

The first of the three Group 1s and sprinting bragging rights go to IMPERATRIZ who claims the spoils in the Darley Champions Sprint (1200m).

📽 @10SportAU | #StakesDaypic.twitter.com/4ax2aVpF44

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 11, 2023

Buenos Noches was second to Newmarket Handicap top weight and favourite Imperatriz in the Group 1 Champions Sprint last November at Flemington, beaten half a length.

The four-year-old son of Supido, who finished seventh in the Newmarket last year, beaten 2.15 lengths, has a 4½kg weight swing on Imperatriz since their last clash.

“He’s a much different colt now, a bigger, stronger colt, more mature,” Smith said.

“He’s come back better than last prep, so I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”

Buenos Noches arrived in Melbourne last month after placing fourth first-up at Randwick.

He settled last of seven as a $1.75 favourite and got within 1.4 lengths of King Of Sparta following a controversial ride by Nash Rawiller.

“It was a bit messy, I don’t think to me he mapped that well in that race,” Smith said.

“He was always going to be back somewhere but he just got shuffled back … his sectionals were good and he pulled up good from the run.”

"Here's the King!"@mcacajamez brings @SnowdenRacing1 sprinter King Of Sparta with a late charge to down Coal Crusher and tearaway leader Malkovich in the Expressway Stakes at Randwick. Buenos Noches ran fourth. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/t3CpE6KGRp

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 17, 2024

Buenos Noches won an 800m jumpout at Flemington last Friday.

He also worked with a mate on Tuesday down the straight.

Imperatriz is a $2.50 favourite with TAB from Buenos Noches ($6), Espiona ($8), Magic Time ($8), Bella Nipotina ($13), Benedetta ($13) and Ruthless Dame ($13).

“It’s going to be a strong race, it always is, I think we get in good at the weights, the horse is at his peak,” Smith said.

“We can’t do anymore but prepare him as best as we can and he’s ready to go … hopefully he’s good enough on the day.

“There’s not a lot between the top half dozen I don’t think, Imperatriz seems to be very hard to beat, we got within half a length of her, I don’t know, you never know.”

Originally published as ‘He’s in the right form’: Trainer Matthew Smith has Buenos Noches primed for Group 1 Newmarket Handicap