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Ad Buenos Noches on the way to the barriers prior to the running of the Darley Champions Sprint at Flemington Racecourse on November 11, 2023 (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Buenos Noches set for Super Saturday showdown

24 January 2024 Written by Racing & Sports

The Yulong Newmarket Handicap is shaping as the goal for Buenos Noches as he heads back to Flemington for Super Saturday on 9th March.

Matthew Smith is firmly focused on capturing an elusive Group One win with high-class sprinter Buenos Noches, confirming feature sprints in Melbourne and Sydney are on the table. 

Still an entire, winning a major would secure the four-year-old's future at stud, and he showed he wasn't far off arguably the best sprinter in the country when getting to within a half-length of Imperatriz at his spring swansong in the Darley Champions Stakes at Flemington.

Buenos Noches takes his first step back in a 900m Rosehill barrier trial on Thursday, ahead of his resumption in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 17. 

He will then head south for the Group 1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Super Saturday, March 9. 

"He will most likely go down to Melbourne for the Newmarket. "We are definitely focused on winning Group Ones," Smith told Sky Racing radio. 

Smith said connections had fielded some inquiries from studs regarding Buenos Noches, but no deals had been made. 

However, he expected that to change if the horse could claim a major, given most of the other top sprinters of his age group, such as 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick, were geldings. 

"We've had a few nibbles at him," Smith said. 

"He's obviously a really good horse and probably the best sprinting colt in Australia - I don't think there are any other colts of his age as good as him. 

"We've just got to get the Group One on the board and then I'm sure the studs will come looking for him."