Imported Japanese galloper Brave Smash could have booked himself a slot in The Everest with his first Australian win in the Listed $120,000 Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) at The Valley today.

Trainer Darren Weir said that he expected a little bit more from Brave Smash who was sent out as the $1.60 favourite but anticipates  the five year old to show immense improvement from his half a length win over his stablemate El Divino ($10).

Third placegetter Revolving Door ($41) ran home well to fill third spot just on one length from the winner.

“He (Damian Lane) rode him like his price suggested I suppose,” Weir said.

“I wold have liked to see him run through the line and run away from them a little bit better.”

“Anyway he won and you can’t do much more than that I guess.”

“We still know there is quite a lot to come, he is very well in himself and we are a fair way off at being at the bottom of him and I am sure he will improve.”

“We had him well enough for today for him to take natural improvement and now we might be able to really screw him down if he happens to get a slot (in The Everest).

Weir has five weeks to tune up Brave Smash for the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.