Brave Smash's connections are unsure where to start his Australian career so punters will face a task lining up the form of former Japanese galloper if he runs at Flemington on Saturday.
Brave Smash will be an acceptor for the Group III Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) but managing part-owner Luke Murrell said the stallion was not a definite starter.
The Australian Bloodstock co-founder said he was weighing up whether to run the Darren Weir-trained Brave Smash in unknown territory down the Flemington straight or wait a week to run the horse around a bend in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield.
"Weiry has left it up to me but I've got no idea where we start him because I do think he's high class but do you want to start a Japanese horse down the straight and he's never seen the straight and never seen a tempo that you get in a straight race," Murrell said.
"The alternative is the Regal Roller next week and I'm probably leaning that way but we'll accept and have a look at the race on Saturday.
"A lot of those straight races, they only sprint for the last 200 or 300(m) and that's it and the quality with the Japanese horses is that they just go from the gates.
"It might just be too foreign for him. I don't know."
Brave Smash is a Listed winner over 1600m in Japan but was beaten less than a length when fourth in the Group III Ocean Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama at his last start in March. The winner ran the 1200m in 1.08.3.
"He has still got to run those sorts of times here but if you can run 1.08, you've got to have some ability," Murrell said.
Murrell said the reports on Brave Smash's progress have been excellent but the horse's form was over varying distances, which made placing him difficult early in his preparation.
"He worked with Voodoo Lad the other week and had the better of him," Murrell said. "Then he worked with (Black Heart) Bart and Tosen Stardom and was with them well on the bridle as well.
"So, we'll run him and assess what happens after that.
"I'm just unsure where to start him but I know he'll sprint and sprint very well fresh."
