Interest is increasing around Darren Weir’s Japanese import Brave Smash possibly filling a slot in the 2017 The Everest field this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

Raced by Australian Bloodstock, the progressive Tosen Phantom stallion caught the eye in his first run down under at Caulfield Racecourse over the weekend.

Ridden by Damian Lane the five-year-old produced a blistering final 100m in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) on P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day to cross only a quarter-length second.

Brave Smash was near last turning for home but had all the late speed to come close to running down the Lindsay Park-trained winner Vega Magic, who was having his first run since winning Adelaide’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 20.

Weir is talking of a next-up run back at Caulfield on September 2 against stablemate and defending champion Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Veteran seven-year-old Black Heart Bart will chase a sixth career Group 1 win and back-to-back Memsie Stakes titles in a fortnight following his returning third behind Hartnell in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

Black Heart Bart is the equal $6 favourite in pre-nomination Memsie Stakes betting at [Ladbrokes] along with Vega Magic just ahead of the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain ($6.50) whose resuming run produced a Missile Stakes second behind stablemate Invincible Gem.

Brave Smash is also being kept safe in the all-in Memsie Stakes odds online paying $9 for the win.

Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett confirmed to the Newcastle Herald this week that the Restricted $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick in Sydney on October 14 was also an option for Brave Smash this spring.

“Obviously we’re keen if we can get a slot in the Everest,” Lovett said.

“We’re talking to a few different parties and we’ll see how that turns out this week.

“We were already talking to one party [before the Regal Roller], so obviously it helps a little bit now that he’s run so well.”

Despite failing to get an early win in Australia on the board, Lovett had nothing but praise for the weekend run of Brave Smash.

“He obviously got too far back and had to make up a lot of ground, so his run was huge,” Lovett added.

“He’s a very good horse.

“The winner was a Group 1 horse, and although he gave him 10 lengths start as well. There’s a bit to like about him.”

The latest The Everest racing odds have Brave Smash listed as a $26 chance to take out the inaugural edition of the lucrative feature, markets led by triple TJ Smith Stakes champ Chautauqua ($4.60).

To back Brave Smash next race and to access all the best racing odds and Group 1 offers over the coming months head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.