Chris Waller has both Brazen Beau and Delectation in the 2015 Newmarket Handicap field and the leading Sydney trainer is happy with the condition of both horses heading into the Group 1 event at Flemington on Saturday.
Joao Moreira will reunite with Brazen Beau in the 2015 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Brazen Beau won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and he proved that he was capable of mixing it with the best sprinters in Australia when he finished second behind Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 21.
The I Am Invincible colt gets into the 2015 Newmarket Handicap with just 52 kilograms on his back and Waller told Racing Ahead that the three-year-old is capable of beating the three highest-rated sprinters in the world.
“How are they are going to beat some of the best horses in the world is the question, but maybe Brazen Beau can take the crown off them,” Waller said.
“He certainly ran well in the Lightning and he is weighted very well considering his Group 1 success in the spring.
“In tomorrow’s race he looks very well placed.”
Delectation stamped himself as a horse to follow when he finished second behind Brazen Beau in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and he returned to racing with a second place finish in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 7 – a race he arguably he should have run after he lost momentum changing his lead leg in the final stages.
The Shamardal gelding had no luck whatsoever in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21, but Waller is confident that the three-year-old will produce a much better performance in the Newmarket Handicap.
“With Delectation you just have to forget last start,” Waller said.
“He drew wide, he got over racing and he never settled once.
“Since then he has had a jump-out up at the straight at Flemington and he was second behind Brazen Beau in the spring.
“He is a very rough chance, but in our opinion he deserves to be there.”
Brazen Beau is currently available at 2015 Newmarket Handicap odds of $4.80 with Ladbrokes Australia and is on the third line of betting, while Delectation is priced at $21 to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the time-honored race this weekend.
