Matthew Enright now calls Bendigo home, but the proud Kiwi is hoping his high-profile New Zealand acquisition can shine at his hometown fixture on Saturday.
Formerly known as Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar), Buoyantsea will be one of the most intriguing runners on the Golden Mile fixture having won the Gr.3 Stewards Stakes and Listed Hazlett Stakes at his past two outings.
Passed in for $3000 as a weanling, Buoyantsea went on to win six of his 16 starts for trainer Sabin Kirkland before Enright and a group of local businessmen made a play to purchase a 50 percent stake in the four-year-old son of Dalghar.
“You don’t get these types of horses too often being a small-time operator like myself,” Enright said of the opportunity.
“I thought his finishing speed was quite good and he’s run some really good time.
“He is out of Pentire mare and on his pedigree, he probably shouldn’t be winning at 1200m.
“The way he was finishing and he was still being a little bit aggressive in his races and had a second gear he could kick into.”
Buoyantsea has had won one local jumpout heading into Saturday’s Benchmark 84 contest over 1100m, where Ben Allen has been booked to ride.
Enright, an astute horseman who rides his own trackwork, said the horse had taken some acclimatising to the Australian way of training.
“I wouldn’t say he’s ready to rock and roll,” Enright admitted.
“I am carrying 62 kilograms and putting a senior on.
“I always like to have improvement in them and he is a long way to his grand final.
“This is only 1100m and he is giving me the feel that 1400-1600m might be what suits his style of racing.”
Enright said the remainder of the preparation is undecided, but connections have discussed the possibility of traveling the horse interstate for the likes of the Goodwood and Stradbroke Handicap.
Buoyantsea has a Victorian handicap rating of 88.
Enright is no stranger to a smart horse, having prepared Stakes winners Majestical (NZ) (Montjeu) and Tiakinui (NZ) (Keeper).
