The Darren Weir trained Brave Smash has been selected to race in Chris Waller Racing’s slot in the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Brave Smash, above, will fill Chris Waller Racing’s slot for The Everest in 2018. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Chris Waller Racing and Brave Smash’s managing owners Australian Bloodstock have agreed on terms which will give Brave Smash his second appearance in The Everest after flashing home to fill third spot behind Redzel and Vega Magic in the Australian Turf Club’s slot in the inaugural running of The Everest last year.
The Japanese import carried that good Spring form over into the 2018 Autumn Carnival and after running a second up third in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, went on to claim his first Group 1 win on Australian soil when he beat his stablemate Tosen Stardom in the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Brave Smash then ran second to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington before his Autumn form tapered off with a seventh to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick followed by a tenth in the Group 1 $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
The Gerald Ryan trained Deploy raced in the Chris Waller Racing slot in The Everest in 2017 and finished in ninth position, just over four lengths from the winner.
“The Everest has captured the attention of the entire world. We are in a very fortunate position to hold a slot and be in a position to showcase the stable’s best sprinter when the time is right,” Waller said in a statement on twitter.
“However when the opportunity to have a horse of the calibre of Brave Smash to represent the slot for my shareholders, it was a straight-forward decision.
“We have a horse which has been proven in the best company of sprinters since arriving in Australia a little over 12 months ago and I have a huge amount of respect for Australian Bloodstock which are industry leaders in targeting and importing tried international horses.”
Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett is thrilled to team up with Chris Waller Racing and said that trainer Darren Weir will have a clear vision now to prepare Brave Smash for The Everest during the 2018 Sydney Spring Carnival.
“We feel that Brave Smash deserves another shot at the Everest. This year he is a group 1 winner, with form around the best sprinters in the world,” Lovett said.
“Darren Weir was very keen to secure a slot early this year and target the race. To be given the opportunity to represent Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller and his partners in their slot is a huge thrill.
“The Everest race has already captured the attention of trainers and connections all over the world. It is something that our connections are very keen to be part of. We are very thankful and excited to now have that chance again.”
Brave Smash has joined Trapeze Artist (Aquis), In Her Time (TAB) and Redzel (Yulong Investments) to have filled slots for The Everest in 2018.
Pre-post betting for The Everest in 2018 at Ladbrokes.com.au has Brave Smash marked at $15 alongside of the Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic while Trapeze Artist is the early favourite at $5 just ahead of Redzel at $6.
Early betting for the 2018 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Trapeze Artist, $6 Redzel, $11 In Her Time, Kementari, $15 Brave Smash, Vega Magic, $17 Harry Angel, $21 English, Merchant Navy, $26 Chautauqua, Estijaab, Hot King Prawn, Lady Aurelia, Le Romain, Menari, Redkirk Warrior, Shoals, Viddora, $31 or better the rest.
