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Lees Looking Forward To Dubai With Brave Smash

3 minute read

Trainer Kris Lees expects travel experience will be an important asset for international sprinter Brave Smash when he jets out of Sydney for Dubai on Monday.

Brave Smash
Brave Smash Picture: Racing and Sports

Brave Smash, Viddora and Illustrious Lad are booked to be flown to Dubai on Monday to represent Australia in the $US2 million Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup program at Meydan on March 30.

Long distance travel is nothing new for Brave Smash, who came to Australia from a successful career in Japan and has since travelled between Melbourne and Sydney for his races.

“He’s a seasoned traveller,” Lees said. “I don’t think the trip away will concern him.

“We’re very comfortable with where Brave Smash is at the moment. He came out of his Newmarket run well.”

A dual G1 winner when formerly trained by Darren Weir, Brave Smash produced his best performance for Lees when charging to the line late for third behind Sunlight and Osborne Bulls in the G1 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m at Flemington on March 9.

He has since made his first visit to the Lees stable in Newcastle to prepare for his Dubai trip.

Lees said Brave Smash’s Newmarket third gave him added confidence about his chances over the similar straight 1200m course at Meydan with Hugh Bowman booked for the ride.

“The straight track and fast ground will suit him,” Lees said.

“He can hold his own against the top sprinters in Australia and that normally makes you competitive against the best in the world.

“I’ve only had him for a short period of time, but I think he has really held his form well as he’s aged.

“If he can maintain that form, he should do well.”

A Japanese-bred son of Tosen Phantom, Brave Smash has been secured to stand at Aquis Farm from next season but not before a possible world tour.

Options for Brave Smash after Dubai include a trip to Hong Kong for Champions Day in April as well as Royal Ascot in June.

The Al Quoz Sprint promises to draw a crack international field led by Godolphin’s brilliant King’s Stand Stakes winner Blue Point, British Champion Sprint Stakes hero Sands Of Mali and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal.

Viddora, also a dual G1 winner, completed her preparation for Dubai with a straight track workout at Flemington last week and has to travel to Sydney to join Monday’s flight.

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell has called on Paddy Bell, Black Caviar’s previous travelling rider, to accompany Viddora and oversee her prep when she lands at Meydan.

“She’s had a nice break and has come back in really good order,” Kennewell said.

“We are happy with how she’s progressing.

“It looks like a high class race with Blue Point in there but we are quietly confident.”

Viddora is no stranger to air travel, having jetted around Australia to race in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane Adelaide and Perth in previous campaigns.
Racing and Sports

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