Japanese import Brave Smash will have his final lead up run for The Everest in the Listed $120,000 Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Brave Smash, above, will run in the Testa Rossa Stakes in the lead up to The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Brave Smash, above, will run in the Testa Rossa Stakes in the lead up to The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

It was announced over the weekend that the Darren Weir trained Brave Smash would be running in the slot held by the Australian Turf Club in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.

The Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager-Racing, James Heddo said that the Club was delighted to secure an agreement with Australian Bloodstock who imported the five year old from Japan for Weir to prepare for the Spring Carnival.

“We have selected Brave Smash for several reasons and think he is an excellent fit for the ATC,’’ Mr Heddo said.

“We have great confidence in Darren Weir’s judgement that the best of Brave Smash is yet to come, and the stable can now focus solely on one race and aim to peak on October 14 in The Everest.”

Brave Smash has had two runs for the Weir stable for a first up second to Group 1 winner Vega Magic in the Listed $120,000 Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 19 followed by a win with Damian Lane in the saddle in the Listed $120,000 Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on September 9.

Weir would like to run Brave Smash in the Testa Rossa Stakes and then give the stallion three weeks to prepare for The Everest.

“We’ll see how he gallops, then accept and work out if he runs there,” Weir told racing.com.

“I’m a bit keen to run because he’s a bull, and he’s still a bit big, and it gives us three weeks to The Everest.

“I think fourth-up into The Everest would be terrific, and three-week gap between his third and fourth run sits well with me.”

“I’d be a little keen to ride him quieter, hopefully midfield on Saturday if we run and strong through the line.”

Weir said that he is a bit concerned that Brave Smash has a bad habit of not leaving the barriers cleanly and he will be working to rectify that before he takes on a hot field of sprinters in The Everest.

“He’s just got the habit of not stepping away great; he’s just been missing it by half-a-length,” Weir said.

“First-up he got himself into a tricky position because of that, but then, at Moonee Valley Damian rode him like the best horse – he rode him to win the race, and it gave him a good hit-out.

“Heading towards The Everest, I guess he’d have to improve those little barrier habits a bit if you’re any chance of running into the money.”

Early betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au sees Brave Smash marked at $11 while the Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua heads the market order at $5 just ahead of Vega Magic at $5.50 and brilliant three year old Menari at $6.50.

Early betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Chautauqua, $5.50 Vega Magic, $6.50 Menari, Redzel, $7.50 Redkirk Warrior, $8 She Will Reign, $11 Brave Smash, $13 English, Russian Revolution, $21 Houtzen, $26 Deploy, $34 Fell Swoop, Spieth, Terravista, $41 or better the rest.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.