The Darren Weir trained Everest slot runner Brave Smash will have his final lead up run in Melbourne in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 28.
Brave Smash, above, will have his next run in the Moir Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Weir sent Brave Smash to Sydney for a second up run for a third to Ball Of Muscle in the Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick last Saturday and was contemplating sending the Japanese import back to the Harbour City to run in the Group 2 $500,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 29.
Jamie Lovett from Australian Bloodstock said a change of plans is likely to see Brave Smash join stablemate Nature Strip in the Moir Stakes before the pair line against each other again in the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
“The way Darren (Weir) is talking, he’d probably rather not bring him back to Sydney again,” Lovett told AAP.
“He may chase Nature Strip around the Valley, we’ll definitely have a look at some alternate options.
“Nothing’s in concrete but talking to Darren, that’s the way he’s leaning.”
Brave Smash races in the Australian Bloodstock colours and carried the blue, black and white silks into third place behind Redzel and Vega Magic in the inaugural running of The Everest last year.
The high quality sprinter then returned in the 2018 Autumn to claim a Group 1 win in the $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield before finishing second to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight.
In early betting for the 2018 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au Brave Smash is listed at the double figure odds of $26 while Nature Strip is sharing the second line of betting at $6.50 alongside of the Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic.
Last year’s winner Redzel and the Gerald Ryan trained Trapeze Artist are currently sharing favouritism for The Everest at $5 each.
Confirmed runners for the 2018 The Everest: Trapeze Artist (Aquis, slot holder), In Her Time (TAB), Redzel (Yulong Investments), Brave Smash (Chris Waller Racing), Shoals (The Star), English (Damion Flower), Santa Ana Lane (Inglis), U S Navy Flag (Coolmore), Vega Magic (James Harron) and Invincible Star (GPI Racing), Nature Strip (ATC) with one remaining slot yet to be filled.
Early betting for the 2018 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Redzel, Trapeze Artist, $6.50 Nature Strip, Vega Magic, $12 Santa Ana Lane, In Her Time, $14 U S Navy Flag, Invincible Star, $18 Home Of The Brave, Shoals, $21 English, $26 Brave Smash, $31 Pierata, $34 Winx, $41 Jungle Cat, Prompt Response, $61 Graff, Kemeno, Le Romain, Voodoo Lad, Viddora.
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