Matthew Smith sets sights on The Everest 2023

The autumn didn’t go to plan for Buenos Noches, but trainer Matthew Smith is hoping the talented sprinter can make up for lost time this spring.

The colt was among the best of his age group during last year’s Melbourne carnival, just missing to subsequent Everest winner Giga Kick in the Danehill Stakes (1100m) and rocketing to the line for third to In Secret in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Expectations were high when he returned this autumn and Buenos Noches wasn’t far away in two Group 1 runs, finishing fifth in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and seventh in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

But his campaign had to be cut short when he firstly pulled up worse for wear from the Newmarket then developed a cough that Smith couldn’t remedy.

“He didn’t pull up very well after his last run in Melbourne,” Smith said.

“The plan was to keep going with him but then he started coughing and we couldn’t get rid of the cough. He just kept coughing and coughing so we ended up spelling him.

“I’ve never had one like it and I may never have another one like it. But he’s perfect now.”

The three-year-old is back in work at Smith’s Warwick Farm stable and scheduled to trial early next month.

The Group 1-winning trainer hopes to have Buenos Noches up and running at the start of the new season to give the horse every opportunity to showcase his worthiness for an Everest invitation.

“He’s back in work and he will trial early July,” Smith said.

“I’d like to run him in August and then look at races leading into The Everest, so we’ll see how it all plays out.

“The first couple of runs, we’ll know where we’re up to, but he’s going along well and he looks super.”