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By Ray Hickson

It’s not lost on star apprentice Dylan Gibbons that if emerging sprint talent Buenos Noches continues his rise at Randwick on Saturday he could find himself riding a live chance in the $20 million TAB Everest.

Dylan Gibbons (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Matthew Smith-trained four-year-old still needs to impress slot holders in the Group 2 $1 million Toyota Forklifts Shorts (1100m) but in his short time on the horse Gibbons has found plenty of reason to think he can.

“That’s the most exciting part about him, he’s still untapped,’’ Gibbon said.

“He’s still learning what the caper is all about so the fact he’s taking on horses at the highest level it’s a real feather in his cap.

“He’s treated like a bit of an underdog. It’d be good to make a statement on Saturday and put his name up in lights for the slot holders.”

Smith handed Gibbons his first big race winner, Festival Dancer in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle in 2021, so it's no surprise he's entrusted the 21-year-old with the ride on his topline sprinter.

Buenos Noches is currently $15 in TAB’s all-in Everest market and $7.50 on Thursday to win the Shorts.

After showing a glimpse of his promise with placings behind the likes of Giga Kick and In Secret last spring in Melbourne, he arrived on the Everest scene with a dominant win in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick a month ago.

Gibbons said it was the perfect platform to really test his mettle as an Everest contender.

“He did it easily. When he got there he wanted to lay in a bit and he didn’t know how to go on with it and put them to bed,’’ he said.

“We didn’t want to knock him around first-up and just make sure he had a good day out.

“That excites me, you could probably say the opposition wasn’t as strong as it is on Saturday but you can only beat what’s in front of you.”

Since the Show County, Gibbons put Buenos Noches through his paces in a barrier trial win and liked what he felt at trackwork on Tuesday.

He feels the horse is sharp enough to cope with coming back 100m on his first-up success and that he can make use of barrier three if needed.

“From the trial and his work he couldn’t be going better and it’s giving me more and more confidence going into the weekend,’’ Gibbons said.

“The smart thing about bringing him back to 1100m is he’s taking on a few horses who are going to be in The Everest.

“It’s a clever plan by Matt because he’ll either run well and earn his spot or if for some reason he doesn’t aim up you can change your plans.”

Stablemate French Endeavour is a filly Gibbons has some time for though says she faces a challenge from a wide gate in the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).

After finishing beyond midfield in the Silver Shadow, Smith sent her back to the provincials and she easily accounted for her rivals, under Mitchell Bell, in a Class 1 at Hawkesbury two weeks ago.

Buenos Noches wins at Randwick on August 19

“She won well the other day and I had a chat to Mitch Bell after to see what he thought because I like her going forward into the Princess series and he spoke highly of her,’’ he said.

“She’s probably drawn not ideally to be winning but I don’t think she will disgrace herself.

“As long as she’s running home and we can set her up for the mile race (Flight Stakes), that will be her grand final.”

Dylan Gibbons on Protagonist (race 5): “He’s quite a casual sort of horse so he doesn’t show you too much at home. In his trials we’ve sent him a message to see what he’s got and I thought he’s responded quite well and Kris has been happy with him. He’s not a horse that tows you around the track and screams that he’s flying. He’s a lovely animal so it’s just about luck in running with him and seeing where he’s at.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting