Talented colt Brave Design could bypass the Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes and instead contest a sprint race on the Stradbroke Handicap card at Eagle Farm.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Brave Design finished fourth in Heavy conditions last Saturday at Eagle Farm in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m, which is one of the traditional lead-in races towards the final G1 race for two-year-olds in Australia for the season, the J.J. Atkins (1600m) on Saturday week at the same course.
“I thought he was very good,” O’Brien said on Tuesday morning of Brave Design’s Sires’ performance.
“He’s going to run on Stradbroke Day, but it may not be in the J.J. Atkins.
“There’s actually a 1200-metre Listed race (Oxlade Stakes) that day for two-year-olds, we’re potentially just going to bring him back the 200 metres to the 1200.
“I’ve just got a little bit of a doubt about him running out a strong mile.
“That might be the plan.”
Brave Design worked forward from the outside barrier draw in the testing conditions last Saturday, led into the straight and then battled on gamely for fourth in the race won by current J.J. Atkins favourite Cool Archie.
Prior to that Brave Design had placed in his three other starts, finishing third to Tentyris and Shining Smile on debut in the Talindert Stakes, second to subsequent G1 winner Vinrock in the VRC Sires’ Produce and second to Steel Trap in a 1200-metre G3 in Adelaide.
“He’s raced in the top-class two-year-old races and run well every time,” O’Brien said.
“He drew wide (last Saturday) and it was a tough-enough day and he was very game. He just got tired the last 100m, so he’s knocking on the door. Hopefully he can win his first race next start.”
O’Brien is also set to have Grinzinger Belle competing on Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm, with the four-year-old scheduled to travel north on Wednesday after a pleasing jumpout at Flemington last Friday in preparation for her Queensland missions.
“She’s on her way up there tomorrow and she’ll run on Stradbroke Day, probably in the Dane Ripper and then on to the Tatt’s Tiara,” O’Brien said.
“She’s just freshened up after the Sydney Carnival and she gets to suitable mares’ races up there.”
On Saturday, O’Brien has Politely Dun set to chase a G1 win in the rescheduled Queensland Derby (2400m).
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