Bowman’s Smash hit
ON the eve of today’s date with destiny with Winx in the Cox Plate, champion jockey Hugh Bowman showed his mastery by guiding Brave Smash to victory in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Brave Smash’s trainer Darren Weir attributed the win to Bowman’s great ride.
“He pinged the gates and then got him into a great spot,” Weir said.
Bowman steered Brave Smash to a midfield position, three out behind Spirit Of Valor and followed that horse into the race.
Spirit Of Valor, ridden by Oisin Murphy, hit the front on straightening but Brave Smash was able to wear him down before the line.
Bowman said the addition of blinkers had made the difference for Brave Smash.
“He was set for The Everest but he found a wet track. I told Darren Weir not to use the blinkers then, but they made a difference tonight,” Bowman said.
Weir said he was glad he to put the blinkers on last night as Brave Smash needed them so that he could get a good spot in the early stages of the race. Weir said he had great success with Brave Smash’s owner Australian Bloodstock, who purchased the six-yearold in Japan, but the past six months had not been easy.
“They never whinge or complain,” Weir said.
It was Brave Smash’s second Group 1 win after his victory in the Futurity Stakes in February.
It was a messy Manikato Stakes with many luckless runners, including Gold Coast mare Houtzen who couldn’t get a clear run in the straight and finished sixth..
Stable foreman TJ Comerford was thrilled with Sprit Of Valor and said trainer Aidan O’Brien was delighted his sprinters could measure up in Australia.
Brave Smash ($8.50) defeated Spirit Of Valor ($18) by a neck with Kementari ($8) running on from near last to finish third a half a length away.
The well-supported $4.40 favourite Sunlight, the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner, finished seventh with jockey Tim Clark blaming a slow beginning.