Japanese bred Brave Smash (Jpn) has made a fine start to his stud career and with his first Yarraman Park bred foals set to arrive this spring the Group I winning sprinter added a new stakes-winner to his tally at Belmont in Perth on Saturday when progressive gelding Brave Spirit captured the Listed WATC Raconteur Stakes (1400m).
Trained by Steve Wolfe and ridden by Shaun McGruddy, Brave Spirit has been super consistent this preparation working through his grades and emerged triumphant after his first crack at a Black Type race.
Brave Spirit charged to the line from back in the field to win by more than a length running away with his overall record now an impressive three wins and six placings from 10 starts with prizemoney just shy of $230,000.
Bred and retained to race by Mt Hallowell Stud after passing in at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Brave Spirit is the second winner from well bred Flying Spur mare Miss Shanghai, a half-sister to stakes-winner Granny Red Shoes, the dam of this season’s stakes-winning juvenile High Octane from the family of Group I winner Star Satire.
Brave Spirit is the third stakes-winner for Brave Smash joining Group II winner Kimochi, who sold for $2.2million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and the ill-fated Group winner Brave Mead.
Brave Smash has the excellent seasonal strike rate of 50.9% winners to runners and is priced at $33,000 this spring.