He liked Buenos Noches as a yearling, but Matt Smith is liking him even more as an older horse.
After missing out on Group One placegetter Supido as a yearling, Matthew Smith and his wife Melissa decided they would do the next best thing and buy one of his offspring at the sales.
Coming across a Supido colt out of Koi at the 2021 Inglis Classic Sale, they took one look and snapped up the horse now known as Buenos Noches for $40,000.
"We were underbidder on Supido himself, so then we said, 'let's try to find one at the sales and buy the best Supido we can find'," Matt Smith recalled.
"He had plenty of leg under him, good rein on him. He was a really good walker and had a lovely action.
"The first time we saw him, I remember Mel said to me, 'don't pull him out again, we don't need to look at him again. We like him, let's just go back and buy him'."
Now a four-year-old, Buenos Noches has raced eight times for three wins and more than $575,000 in prizemoney.
A commanding first-up victor of the Show County Quality, he heads to the Group 2 Shorts (1100m) at Randwick looking for a similar result to press his claims for a slot in the $20 million The Everest (1200m).
While there have been some inquiries from slot holders following his last start win, no firm offer has been forthcoming with many waiting and watching what unfolds on Saturday.
Smith has no butterflies ahead of Buenos Noches' Shorts assignment despite the riches at stakes.
"If you tick every box in the lead-up, make sure you don't leave any stone unturned and control what you can control, get them there ready to go, then I'm never nervous when the horse is fit and well and has had a good lead up," he said.
"While 1200 would be more up our alley, this is the way the race presents so we've just got to give it a shot."
Completing the picture is apprentice Dylan Gibbons who gets another wonderful opportunity to showcase his burgeoning skills on a big stage.
Gibbons was aboard for the entire's first-up win and Smith didn't hesitate to stick by him.
"I probably used him more than most as a three-kilo claimer," Smith said.
"We've had a really good relationship and I didn't want to be swapping jockeys.
"Dylan is very mature for his age and he's a good rider. You've got to back them and give them a shot."
Gibbons and Smith also team up with French Endeavour in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and while a wide draw in barrier 14 has made her task tough on Saturday, Smith rates her highly.
"The draw will make it hard but she's a really nice filly and I think she'll win a good race," he said.
"Maybe not Saturday because of the draw, but we'll go to the Flight Stakes and she'll give them a shake there."
