Australia’s leading trainer Darren Weir will return to the final day of the rich Sydney carnival on Saturday in a bid to find a clue to why his imported sprinter Brave Smash performed so poorly at his first autumn attempt at Randwick two weeks ago.
Weir will only have one starter in Sydney on Saturday after his imported stayer Red Cardinal was scratched to start in Melbourne, which is in stark contrast to his huge number of runners at Caulfield and Morphettville.
Brave Smash disappointed in Sydney.Credit: AAP
Brave Smash finished a close second to Redkirk Warrior at Flemington in the Newmarket Handicap, in a race many believe will prove to be a vintage form event that identified two outstanding sprinters.
However Brave Smash journeyed to Sydney and struggled, finishing seventh behind Trapeze Artist in the group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes, prompting the Weir stable to rethink plans and start the former Japanese galloper in the group 1 All Aged Stakes.
“We were disappointed with the way he went in Sydney last time. We could find no reason for his poor showing," he said.
“We’re coming back to Sydney basically to find out what went wrong and why he went so poorly.
“It was very much a run out of character and we hope to know more after he goes around.”
Brave Smash will have few problems with the 1400 metres of the All Aged Stakes, which will be the last group 1 race at the Sydney carnival.
“Mark Zahra will ride him. I know Craig Williams took the mount last time but he’s riding elsewhere,” Weir said.
If Brave Smash can find his best form on Saturday, it will be no surprise to see him win considering his powerful success at Caulfield recently in the Futurity Stakes, also run over 1400 metres at group 1 level.
The dominance of the Weir stable around Australia is reflected in his large number of starters, which includes eight in Adelaide and 14 in Melbourne. Weir is expected to be a major player in the upcoming rich South Australian carnival.
Weir also announced he would take a small team to Queensland from the rich Hollindale Cup meeting in May.
Gailo Chop has pulled up well after a brave second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last week, according to connections, and will head to the group 1 Doomben Cup on May 19.
In other news, the Australian Turf Club has made an application to Racing NSW, which has approved the renaming of the 1400-metre Warwick Stakes to the Winx Stakes for the run at Royal Randwick on Saturday, August 18.
This year’s running of the $500,000 Winx Stakes coincides with it being elevated to group 1 status.
Winx has won the past two runnings, part of her remarkable 25-race winning streak, which has included 18 group 1 victories following Saturday’s $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
ATC chairman Laurie Macri said: “The ATC believes it is fitting for this race to be run as a group 1 for the first time to be named in honour of Winx.''