After the announcement early in the week Australia’s Craig Williams would be replaced for the July Cup 2015 run on Chris Waller’s star colt Brazen Beau, a new hoop in the form of James Doyle has been secured by connections of the retiring galloper.
Brazen Beau will be ridden by English hoop James Doyle in the 2015 July Cup at Newmarket for his final run before heading to stud. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.
Next month the Waller-trained I Am Invincible three-year-old, who is set to serve at Northwood Park for a first season service fee of $44,000, will bow out of racing after his final run in the Group 1 July Cup (1207m).
A dual Group 1 winner back home, Brazen Beau’s swansong race on the Aussie turf was a win in the Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight in mid-March.
Brazen Beau’s other Group 1 win was in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, also run over the 1200m at Flemington in Victoria, and for both that and the subsequent Newmarket Handicap success he was ridden by ‘The Magic Man’, Brazilian Joao Moreira.
He then travelled overseas for the first time for his latest appearance when runner-up in the coveted Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1207m) at Royal Ascot on June 20.
Williams had the ride that day but will be replaced in the saddle of the $1.4 million earner by Doyle, one of the retained English-based jockeys for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, with Brazen Beau to don the famous Godolphin colours for his last career run before heading to stud.
Godolphin boasts sole ownership of the very valuable stallion after the lease held by the horse’s previous syndication came to an end after his beaten run in the Diamond Jubilee.
Boyle is full of pre-race confidence heading into the classic aboard the young Aussie raider after partnering Brazen Beau in a track gallop over 800m (four furlongs) at Newmarket early this week.
“We didn’t do anything spectacular but he quickened up nicely from the two (furlongs) and hit the line nicely,” Doyle told the Racing Post.
“He’s a ride to look forward to, big time.
“He’s very relaxed for a sprinter, not a buzzy type and I wouldn’t swap him for anything else in the race.”
Waller will arrive back in England on Sunday to be there in the final week of Brazen Beau’s July Cup preparation.
Despite his last start defeat in England, Brazen Beau is the early favourite in the current July Cup odds at bookmakers in Australia sitting just ahead of big danger Muhaarar.
Another young colt in flying form, Muhaarar was last seen winning the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (1207m) at Ascot Racecourse.
To back Brazen Beau in the July Cup at the right price make sure you’ve got an account open online through Ladbrokes.com.au who offer the most competitive odds on all the Group 1s in Australia and abroad.
