Beau draws a blank

RACING’S barrier gods have again spurned Brazen Beau after the star Australian sprinter drew barrier 15 in Saturday night’s July Cup at Newmarket.

In a cruel echo of Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee, Brazen Beau’s hopes of retiring to stud as a Group 1 winner in England have been seriously compromised.

To be ridden by James Doyle, the Newmarket Handicap winner will face 14 rivals, including equal favourite Muhaarar.

Doyle replaces Craig Williams, who plotted a solo course at Ascot where Brazen Beau was a close second to Undrafted.

Trainer Chris Waller was effusive about Brazen Beau’s prospects — until the barrier draw.

“It’s great for Brazen Beau to get a feel of the place [Newmarket] as it’s a bit more undulating than Ascot,” he said. “Here you do down as well as up. Even though he ran second at Ascot, I reckon he nailed it. It was a fantastic run.

“Obviously I saw Muhaarar [in the Commonwealth Cup] at Ascot myself and he looks pretty handy.

“He’s the equivalent of what Brazen Beau was in Australia — a three-year-old coming through the ranks who will get the weight allowance.”

Dual King’s Stand Stakes winner Sole Power and stablemate Anthem Alexander are among the final acceptors for the July Cup.

Third in the King’s Stand, Muthmir is one of several contenders including last year’s runner-up Tropics and G Force, winner of the 2014 Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup.