Astute trainer Matthew Smith has never been frightened to aim high with Supido stallion Buenos Noches and he had the look of a future Group I winner when showing real class to carry his top weight of 58.5kg to victory in the Group III ATC Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
First up from a spell following two autumn runs against the A graders when fifth and seventh in the Group I VRC Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap, Buenos Noches was tuned up with a couple of recent barrier trials and looked sensational in the mounting yard for his seasonal return.
Ridden quietly early by Dylan Gibbons, Buenos Noches travelled comfortably off the pace in a slowly run race and when angled into the clear let down with a good burst to win by a length and a quarter over quality Frankel mare Argentia, who also ran well in her second appearance for new trainer Joe Pride.
“He’s a talented horse and we were hoping he’d do that today and then hopefully we can end up in an Everest,” said Matthew Smith.
“We’re very relieved, there was a lot of expectation so it was good to see him put the writing on the wall.
“I’m not sure where we’ll go next, but he’ll run again on two or three weeks and see what happens in regard to the Everest.”
Dylan Gibbons was full of praise for Buenos Noches.
“He got there quite easy and pricked his ears and just had a great time, so onwards and upwards from here,” he said, indicating there was good room for improvement.
“He’s still very hairy and had a lot of nervous energy pre race, so there could be a 1200m race around October time that I think might suit him!”
A $40,000 Inglis Classic Highway Session purchase for his trainer from the Widden Stud draft, Buenos Noches runs for a big group of very happy stable clients.
A stakes-winner last season at three, Buenos Noches has three wins and two placings from eight starts earning over $575,000 in prizemoney with connections hopeful of securing an Everest slot for their talented stallion.
Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Buenos Noches is the second winner from unraced Northern Meteor mare Koi, who died in 2021 after producing just three foals. Koi was a grand-daughter of triple Group I winning Champion NZ 2YO Filly Ballroom Babe from a family featuring plenty of Group winners including Just Dancing and Tahni Girl.
Buenos Noches is the first stakes-winner of the new season for brilliant Sebring sprinter Supido, who stands at a fee of $19,800 this spring.
