Brazen Beau produced an outstanding performance to win the 2015 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington this afternoon.
Brazen Beau produced an outstanding performance to flog the likes of Chautauqua, Terravista and Lankan Rupee in the 2015 Newmarket Handicap. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Jockey Joao Moreira elected to settle Brazen Beau just behind the leaders in the early stages of the race and the talented colt absolutely exploded when he was asked for an extra effort to kick well clear of his rivals and recorded a three length victory from Chautauqua and Terravista, while Lankan Rupee weakened late.
Moreira was delighted with the performance of Brazen Beau in the Newmarket Handicap and the leading jockey, who has ridden plenty of good horses during his riding career, could not have been more glowing his praise in the aftermath of the race.
“He is just an outstanding type of a horse,” Moreira said.
“He really knows what racing is about, he has a good fight to him and he just ran away from them.
“I just want to say thanks to all of the connections that brought me over to ride such a good horse.
“As I discussed with Chris before the race, I was expecting to be a little bit further back than where he ended up in the race, but he just knows what racing is about and he knows what he is supposed to do.
“He just jumped, travelled nice and he kicked strongly at the finish.
“From the half I knew that he was going to win because he was just going too strong to the line and for something else coming from the back would just be too hard.
“He is a lovely horse.”
An emotional Chris Waller was lost for words at the conclusion of the Newmarket Handicap, but he was clearly delighted with the performance of the star three-year-old, who can now lay claim to the title of the best sprinter in Australia.
Waller confirmed that Brazen Beau would return to Sydney for the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 4 before he makes the trip to Royal Ascot for either the Group 1 Kings Stand Stakes (1006m) or the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1207m).
“I chose not to think about it and that is why I am a bit emotional now,” Waller said.
“You don’t see that every day and he has beaten some very good horses and beaten them easily.
“He is a very good horse, he did a great job in the spring and he has had a trouble free preparation.
“I thought his run in the Lightning was excellent, Craig Williams got off her back that day and said that they won’t beat him in the Newmarket.
“Unfortunately for Craig, Joao was on today, but he is a team player and I would like to thank him for it.
“It (Royal Ascot) is on the bucket list that is for sure.”
Chautauqua was the unlucky horse in the race and arguably could have finished closer to Brazen Beau if he found clear running, but Lankan Rupee was most disappointing and finished behind the likes of Lord Of The Sky and Aeronautical.
