Son of Tosen Phantom will stand alongside I Am Invincible and Hellbent in the Hunter Valley this year

The formerly Aquis-based Brave Smash will move to Yarraman Park in the Hunter Valley this year, where he will stand alongside I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) and Hellbent (I Am Invincible).

Winner of the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in 2018, Brave Smash stood his first season at stud in 2019 and has covered 403 mares during the last four seasons in Australia. His first crop includes five winners, from 14 runners, to date and includes the Listed winner Brave Mead. 

"Obviously, Brave Smash was an amazing sprinter and exceptional racehorse who consistently showed his class on the racetrack. He first came on to our radar when people were telling us how good his first-crop of foals were, which is always a good sign at the beginning of a stallion's career," Arthur Mitchell said.

"Since hearing those good reports, we have kept a very close on eye on his career and have been very impressed with his progeny's performances on the track. He has made an incredibly strong start and we hope we will continue on this steep upward trajectory.

"We obviously don't stand many stallions, but we felt Brave Smash fit within our very specific criteria that is needed for us to take on a new stallion at the farm. We will be giving him the greatest chance by sending a lot of our best mares to him and some of the best breeders in the country have already pledged they will also support the horse.

"Although he is Japanese bred, he is very much made in the mould of your typical Australian sprinter and we believe breeders will be very impressed when they come and inspect him on the farm. He is a young horse with his whole career ahead of him and, given the fact he is also a complete outcross, he could very well prove to be a very important stallion to the Australian industry going forward."

Brave Smash stood for $22,000 (inc GST) last year and his 2023 fee will be announced at a later date.