Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Trained by Team Hawkes and ridden by Tyler Schiller, Briasa started favourite and proved too strong at the finish for dual Group I winner Jimmysstar who steamed home for second and is also headed to The Everest.
"To give Tyler credit, he just flowed and he's actually a joy to watch," said co-trainer Michael Hawkes.
"The part I loved the most was when he stalked and he just kept him in a rhythm.
"He's just got so much raw talent, he doesn't know how good he is really.
"Tyler and I had discussions just before he got on the horse and I said just get him to the top of the rise and let him get down and then let him explode, if the race pans out that way."
Tyler Schiller has ridden Briasa in six of his eight wins.
"I think he just keeps learning that little bit more, he's come back a lot more relaxed than last prep," Schiller said.
"But I still think there's more improvement, which is scary."
A homebred for the Johnson family, Briasa has the overall record of eight wins from 12 starts with earnings topping $3.5million.
He is the best of four winners from four foals to race from stakes-winning Twining (USA) mare Mary’s Grace (now deceased), who traces back to influential producer Royal News (IRE), whose descendants include countless G1 winners such as Overreach, Ivory’s Irish, Alynda, Brawny Spirit, Hit the Roof, Precious Gem and Streets of Avalon.
Briasa is the best of 27 stakes-winners for Smart Missile, who is great value priced at just $13,200 at Twin Hills Stud.
