Australian sprinters Brazen Beau, Shamal Wind, Wandjina
ready for Royal Ascot
Sprinter Brazen Beau, trained in Australia by Chris Waller, holds entries in the
King’s Stand S. (Eng-G1) over five furlongs on the opening day of Royal
Ascot Tuesday as well as the Diamond Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) over
six furlongs on the final day, Saturday, June 20.
Brazen Beau is a dual Group 1 winner in Australia, with his latest high-level
success coming in the Newmarket H. (Aus-G1) at Flemington on March 14. He races in
the colors of the 38-strong On Track Thoroughbreds, although he has been
purchased by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation and is set to retire to stud in
Australia following his European campaign.
Grant Morgan, Managing Director of On-Track Thoroughbreds, commented: “There are
38 individual owners in the ownership group from two countries and four states
of Australia. Brazen Beau is a great advertisement for the diversity and
syndicates in Australian racing.
“At the sales, he looked a good strong, forward going type. I knew his dam, who
was trained by his breeder Bernie Howlett who I have had a lot to deal with. I
knew he had a good upbringing on a very small farm and I was very keen to get
him at the sales, where he was my top selection.
“The Newmarket is obviously one of our best sprint races. It was a very fair
race and I think he won it on merit. I think the form is hard to fault. He was
strong through the race and beat arguably one of our best sprinters of recent
years in Lankan Rupee. The form looks very strong.
“Chris Waller arrives this afternoon and the horse will work on Saturday.
Whatever decision Chris take as to which race to go for I will support. He is
entered in both sprints but I think Chris is leaning towards the Diamond Jubilee
S. as his form at 1,200 meters (six furlongs) is strong through the line.
“Joao Moreira would unfortunately not be able to ride him if he goes for the
Diamond Jubilee so he would be instead be ridden by Craig Williams, who has
ridden him three times before and is a great team player.”
Joanne Taylor, Waller’s assistant who traveled to England with Brazen
Beau, added: “I could honestly not have asked for a better horse to travel. He
was phenomenal during the long flights and we had quite a lengthy delay at
Singapore.
“When we eventually arrived in the U.K. to his stable at midnight, all he wanted
to do was eat. He wasn’t worried about sleeping or a blanket, all he wanted was
food.
“If you see him just walking around, you would not even think he was a colt. He
is very laid back and just takes everything in his stride.
“He is very different from most of Chris’s other horses. We have been fortunate
enough to have some good staying horses but it is nice that Brazen Beau is a
sprinter that Chris has trained from the start, starting from scratch.
“Bringing Brazen Beau over for Royal Ascot has been a life-changing experience
for me. I have been fortunate to travel all over Australia with him but I could
never have envisaged myself sitting here 12 months ago, so this horse really has
changed my life.”
The mare Shamal Wind (Dubawi) is set to take in Tuesday’s King’s Stand. The
six-year-old was successful last time out in Group 1 company, taking in the
extended five-furlong Oakleigh Plate (Aus-G1) at Caulfield on February 28.
Her trainer Robert Smerdon reported: “Shamal Wind’s win in the Oakleigh was
typical of her style in that she is a run-on sprinter. She is explosive burst
but you have to time it exactly right and she has been narrowly beaten in races.
She is a tricky ride. Against that, we have the services of Ryan Moore which
should stand us in good stead.
“James Harron, the bloodstock agent, bought the horse a year ago for her current
owners and wanted her to run at Royal Ascot.
“She has taken the traveling well. She is a tough mare with a determined
attitude. It is a great a mare of her age still being competitive at the top
level.
“She would be below the form of horses like Brazen Beau and Lankan Rupee
(Redoute’s Choice) in
Australia but she has got great form when she is a fresh from a break and her
1,000-meter (five-furlong) form is her best.
“Royal Ascot is one the great international meetings of the whole calendar and
it’s a marvelous position to be in. I worked in Epsom many years ago but this
will be my first visit to Royal Ascot.”
Legendary Australian handler Gai Waterhouse has yet to taste success at Royal
Ascot but is hoping to change that in 2015 with Wandjina (Snitzel), who is set to take in
the Diamond Jubilee. The four-year-old won the Australian
Guineas (Aus-G1) over a mile in March and was last seen out when going down by a head in
the seven-furlong All Aged S. (Aus-G1) at Royal Randwick on April
18.
“Wandjina is a very honest horse,” Waterhouse said. “He is athletic and
masculine. He carries himself well and is already a Group 1 winner.
“I spoke to the owners and they said they would like to expose him to racing in
the Northern Hemisphere, as he will be retired to stud in August. I think ideally
1,400 (seven furlongs) to 1,600 meters (a mile) is best for him but he is
versatile. He hasn’t run for a while so is fresh.
“I was happy with his last run and I know Damien Oliver was very pleased too. He
is a laid back horse and the ground doesn’t seem to bother him, just takes it as
it comes. Royal Ascot brings everyone together, racing is a wonderful thing.
“We wouldn’t be here is we didn’t think we could be competitive. We have been
here before and didn’t succeed, so we are coming back to try and succeed.
“I rang up Joe (Janiak of Takeover Target, winner of the 2006 King’s
Stand) and said how can a taxi driver win races at Royal Ascot,
but a champion trainer finishes last? He said the key is to keep horses fresh.
“Damien Oliver will ride Wandjina at Royal Ascot.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com