Keith Dryden and Libby Snowden will head to Sydney on Saturday for a hit-and-run mission with Buenos.
A three-time winner, Buenos will have Andrew Adkins in the saddle when taking on the 1200m Class Three Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick, and the Red Bank North-bred mare has drawn awkwardly with gate 12.
Despite the draw, Snowden is confident of a strong second-up showing if Buenos and Adkins can get any luck in transit.
“As we (Canberra trainers) can’t always get into Highways easily, you have to go with whatever you draw and just hope luck is on your side,” Snowden said.
“She is going well, and she appreciates a softer track. We were quite happy with how she went to the line at Wagga, and we’ll see how she goes tomorrow.”
Snowden admitted that she would have liked to give the Canberra mare one more run before testing her in a Highway Handicap, but was confident Buenos would strip fitter and be ready to put her best hoof forward at headquarters.
“We had her in at Queanbeyan last week, but elected not to go,” Snowden said.
“We would have liked one more run under her belt, but she’s had plenty more work, and I’d like to think she has come on from that run.”
Buenos is blessed with plenty of ability and hit the ground running early last year, putting nearly two lengths on her rivals during an eye-catching debut win over the 1200m on her home track on February 7.
During her first four starts, the 4YO D’Argento mare put together a nice record of three wins and one minor placing.
Back-to-back wins on her home track over 1200m and 1300m showcased a horse with promise, but she has yet to showcase that same form away from the nation’s capital.
Tested in a 1500m Class Three Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on October 25, Buenos finished toward the back end of the field.
Subsequent runs at Wagga have been in tougher company, where the Canberra mare finished fifth in the Stan Sadlier (1400m) at Wagga on October 31 before resuming during the recent Wagga carnival, finishing fifth in the 1200m Benchmark 74 Handicap on May 1.
Snowden said Buenos was furnishing into a nice racehorse after impressing early on in her career.
“She just kept stepping up for us and was performing ahead of where we thought she was at,” Snowden said.
“She has shown us plenty, and we hope she can continue that way.”
It’s a busy little period for the Dryden and Snowden team, with four runners today at Canberra, tomorrow’s Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick, before meetings at Nowra on Sunday and Albury on Tuesday.
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Bradley Photos