Craig Williams partnered boom colt Brazen Beau to a close second in the featured Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on the final day of the 2015 Royal Ascot Carnival, but has revealed he has not been retained for the ride on the three-year-old for next month’s Group 1 July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket.
Brazen Beau will have a new jockey take to the saddle for his tilt at next month’s July Cup. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell
Williams has taken the ride on Brazen Beau in two of his eleven competitive starts so far, beginning with this year’s Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in which the son of I Am Invincible finished a credible second behind the world’s highest-rated sprinter Lankan Rupee.
Thrilled to have been given the opportunity to ride Brazen Beau in the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Williams was disappointed he was unable to steer the colt to success but is confident he will again lay a great account for himself in the July Cup.
“I got a text message saying that Sheikh Mohammed is going to use one of his retained jockeys in the July Cup,” Williams told RSN.
“I was very grateful for the association that I had with the horse throughout his career when I was given the opportunity to ride him.
“He had the hopes of a nation on his shoulders (in the Diamond Jubilee) and the coverage and support was unbelievable and I felt disappointed that we couldn’t pull it off but he was so gallant and did a fantastic job.”
Trainer Chris Waller’s decision to skip the 2014 Autumn Carnival with Brazen Beau paid dividends upon the then two-year-old’s arrival north for the Brisbane Winter Carnival when the Rosehill-based horseman saddled the colt to success in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) and second place finishes in each of the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) and Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m).
Resuming in spring for a credible fifth in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) in September, Brazen Beau returned to the winner’s circle in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) before posting a maiden win at the highest level when comfortably putting away a talent-rich field in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Brazen Beau has been installed as outright $3 favourite in early betting markets for the 2015 July Cup.
