Brazen Beau ready for steep challenge
SYDNEY’S champion trainer Chris Waller is adamant crack colt Brazen Beau will be able to adapt to the unique July Cup straight course at Newmarket in England early tomorrow.
The famous July Cup is run over about 1200m on a course that is basically up hill and down dale. There are parts of the race where the field goes out of view so steep are the hills before a testing incline over the final 200m.
Waller has exposed Brazen Beau to the Newmarket course in trackwork and is confident the brilliant young sprinter can produce his best form.
“We have been to the July Cup course twice and he has worked well both times,” Waller said from England.
“I feel we have done everything we need to do with him to prepare for this race.
“I’ve tried not to worry about the course too much as this colt has had plenty of work on undulating courses now.”
Brazen Beau has his career swan song in the July Cup, a feature race no Australiantrained sprinter has been able to win.
But Brazen Beau goes to Newmarket after his courageous second to Undrafted in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and with the likelihood of a firm racing surface, he could provide Waller with a historic international Group 1 triumph.
“It would be arrogant to say Brazen Beau has improved since Royal Ascot but he is great; I can’t fault him,” Waller said.
“All we have tried to do is make sure he is fit enough and he certainly is.”
Waller will be keeping a close eye on today’s racing back home with his stable represented by eight starters at Royal Randwick and six at Flemington.
“I think Mr Darcy (race 2) is one of our better chances at Randwick,” the trainer added.
“This is a horse I am really excited about; he won well on debut and has a staying future as a three-year-old in the new season.
“Berrimilla (race 4) and Kristy Lee (race 6) are mares racing in very good form and they handle wet tracks so they should also run well.”