Brave Smash Breaks Through

Mark Smith - Saturday September 9

Australian Bloodstock's Japanese import Brave Smash (JPN) broke a near two-year drought in Saturday's Listed Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley however his trainer Darren Weir sounded somewhat downcast.

Sent off an odds-on favourite under Damian Lane after his hugely impressive Australian debut when edged out by the top-class Vega Magic in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield, Brave Smash raced on the speed but was all out to defeat Winx's half-brother El Divino by half a length with Revolving Door back in third.  (photo Grant Courtney).

 

"I guess he rode him like his price suggested, he just made sure he didn't get in trouble on him," Weir said

"I would have liked to see him run through the line and run away from them a little bit better but he won and you can't do much more than that I guess," Weir said.

"We still know there is quite a lot to come and he's very well in himself and we're a fair way from getting to the bottom of him.

"We might just have to up the ante a bit if we're going to bigger and better things."

The ATC would likely have shortlisted Brave Smash (JPN) for a slot in the Everest but Weir said things were still up in the air.

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"We'll have to sit down and have a bit of a think about it if he gets a slot," Weir said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow and see what happens during the week I guess.

"We sort of had him well enough today that he would take natural improvement and now really might screw him down if he happens to get a slot."

Brave Smash has not won since capturing a Listed race over a mile at Tokyo on October 10, 2015.

He is a son of Tosen Phantom(JPN) a stakes winning son of the Sunday Silence stallion Neo Universe.

His dam Token Smash (Tokai Teio) is a winning half-sister to multiple stakes winner Tosen Jo O (Timber Country). 

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