Brave Smash Guaranteed Everest Slot

The Australian Turf Club have secured the rights to race the Darren Weir trained ex-Japanese runner Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) as their representative in The Everest at Randwick next month. The 4-year-old colt, owned by the ownership syndicate Australian Bloodstock was one of five horses that the ATC had short-listed as potential candidates for their slot in the A$10M event Oct. 14, the others being Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun), Global Glamour (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), Clearly Innocent (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and Redzel (Aus) (Snitzel (Aus}), with Redzel subsequently securing a berth through slot holder James Harron Bloodstock.

Brave Smash has made a big impression in two runs so far in Australia, following up a close second to Everest favourite Vega Magic (Aus) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) at Caulfied last month with an impressive win in a listed race at Moonee Valley Sept. 9 and ATC executive general manager of racing, James Heddo is excited about the new alliance ahead of the inaugural sprint next month. “We have selected Brave Smash for several reasons and think he is an excellent fit for the ATC,” Heddo told Racing.com. “The ATC is committed to building the international profile of our carnivals and our racing and to attract more overseas competitors to our racecourses. To that end Brave Smash offers a point of difference to The Everest with his international background and pedigree. We also 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.” Australian Bloodstock tasted victory on the biggest stage when Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) won the G1 Melbourne Cup in 2014 and its director Jamie Lovett added, “In Brave Smash, we believe we have the x-factor in what is already shaping as the biggest sprint race in the world, and one that we feel privileged to be part of. We are also very excited as are the ATC to be represented by a Japanese sprinter that will bring unprecedented international attention to The Everest.”