Japanese import Brave Smash is on track for a possible debut to Australian racing in Saturday’s featured Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) down the famous Flemington straight.
Brave Smash could have his first start for Darren Weir in Saturday’s Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
A notable performer in his native Japan prior to being purchased and syndicated by Australian Bloodstock, Brave Smash will take a commendable record of two wins and five minors from only thirteen appearances into his Australian campaign.
Racing manager for trainer Darren Weir, Jeremy Rogers told Racing Victoria that the Tosen Phantom entire will be included in 2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap nominations and a decision on a start will be confirmed later in the week.
“We are going to nominate Brave Smash and we’ll just enter him and see what it looks like before we decide to accept or not,” Rogers said.
“He jumped out the other morning and we feel he’s now ready to go but obviously there’s the Aurie’s Star or the Regal Roller (Stakes) the following week or even a benchmark race the week after, so there are a few options for us at this stage and nothing’s been set in stone at this stage.”
Brave Smash debuted to racing in June of 2015 and immediately stamped himself as a horse to follow; finishing second behind Lord Quest in the Two-Year-Old Newcomer Plate (1600m) in Tokyo, before again finished second in his next two starts.
Breaking through for a maiden race win in a 1500m race in Sapporo on September 6th, Brave Smash was sent to the paddock after flying home late to win the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup (1600m) in Tokyo in October.
Taking a couple of runs to find form upon stepping up to black type company, Brave Smash finished second in the Chunichi Sports Sho Falcon Stakes (1400m) on March 19th, before managed a midfield finish in the Group 1 NHK Mile Cup (1600m) most notably in May last year.
Resuming in his final preparation in Japan for third in the Capital Stakes (1600m) in November, the entire out of Tosen Smash ran fourth in the New Year Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Group 3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean Stakes (1200m) most recently on March 4th.
The 2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap field is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday (August 9th).
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