Leading hoop Craig Williams has been booked to ride Brazen Beau in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and he believes that the three-year-old is a genuine winning chance in the Group 1 event at Flemington tomorrow.
Brazen Beau will face older horses for the first time in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Brazen Beau has flown under the radar heading into the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes due to the hype surrounding the clash between Lankan Rupee and Deep Field, but the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old has been well-backed and is now into $5 to record a second win at the highest level of racing.
The I Am Invincible colt was narrowly denied a Group 1 victory as a two-year-old by Almalad in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 and he returned to racing with an unlucky effort in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 13 before he returned to winning form in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and stamped himself as one of the leading stallion prospects in the country when he took out the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Williams was most impressed with the Coolmore Stud Stakes victory of Brazen Beau and he told TVN that he believes the three-year-old is a genuine chance of finishing over the top of Deep Field and Lankan Rupee if he is able to replicate that performance in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes this weekend.
“He’s going to be giving Deep Field and Lankan Rupee a start, but he’s going to be challenging them late,” Williams said.
“He’s a very competitive horse.
“When a horse that has won a Coolmore as impressively as he has done down the straight and has come back really well, you just can’t underestimate him.”
Williams is chasing his first win in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes after finishing second on Typhoon Zed in 2009 and missing the placings with Unpretentious (sixth behind Snitzerland in 2014), Satin Shoes (fourth behind Black Caviar in 2013), Metallurgical (eighth behind Black Caviar in 2012), Miss Finland (fifth behind Apace Cat in 2008) and Undoubtedly (11th behind Takeover Target in 2006).
Brazen Beau has been the market mover in the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes, but undefeated sprinter Deep Field ($2.30) remains a narrow favourite from four-time Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee ($2.40).
