Chris Waller’s brilliant three year old Brazen Beau has been confirmed as a runner in the Group 1 £525,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on Saturday.
Brazen Beau has been confirmed a runner in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
The premiership winning trainer arrived in England at the end of last week and after inspecting Brazen Beau and meeting with managing owner Grand Morgan from Ontrack Thoroughbreds, it was confirmed that the I Am Invincible colt would run in The Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Brazen Beau had also been nominated for the Group 1 £375,000 The King’s Stand Stakes (5 furlongs) on Tuesday, the first day of the Royal Ascot five day Carnival, but Waller expects the colt to be better suited on day five.
“In the end some consideration was given to running in both the Kings Stand and the Diamond Jubilee,” Morgan said.
“The King’s Stand was a strong possibility during planning stages but as Brazen Beau has continued to tick every box during his preparation the Diamond Jubilee swung back into favour.
“Chris felt that running in the Kings Stand could leave him flat for the Diamond Jubilee.
“He has an outstanding 1200m record up the straight and he has been strong through the line in both his Group 1 wins.
“He also has a Group 1 second over a mile as a two year-old, so he has both the speed and stamina to handle the Ascot six furlong course.”
“The weather forecast looks ok for a Good to Firm track for the Saturday, any rain that is predicted at this stage seems more likely for early in the week.”
Leading Hong Kong rider Joao Moreira was aboard Brazen Beau for his two Group 1 victories to date but because of his commitments for the Hong Kong Jockey Club on Saturday, top Australian jockey Craig Williams will take over the reins in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Brazen Beau and Moreira combined to win the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival then the pair returned to Flemington during the 2015 Autumn Carnival to score an empathic win against the older horses in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Williams is no stranger to Brazen Beau and the pair got acquainted when second to Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington prior to his win in the Newmarket Handicap.
Brazen Beau is currently the $3.60 favourite for The Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Dermot Weld’s smart sprinter Mustajeeb at $7 and the Gai Waterhouse trained Wandjina at $10.
Aidan O’Brien’s Due Diligence at $11 and $13 chance G Force from the stables of David O’Meara are also well in the market.
