Series stars to stud: Brazen Beau

An Australian raider on the Royal Ascot party, Brazen Beau nearly managed to emulate Black Caviar by winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes for Australia.

Now he has been retired, we take a look back at his career and what lies ahead.

By I Am Invincible and out of the mare Sansadee, the Chris Waller-trained sprinter was always destined to the top early on his career. After an impressive win on debut in a maiden at Canterbury Park in Sydney, Brazen Beau was quickly entered into Group 2 and Group 1 company, where he flourished.

Success in the Group 2 Bollinger Champagne Classic at Doomben was followed by more Group 2 triumph in the Roman Counsel Stakes at Randwick.

However, Brazen Beau’s first victory at the highest level came at Flemington, famous for being the venue for the Melbourne Cup, in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Ridden by top jockey Joao Moreira, the then three-year-old showcased that the future was very bright and that Royal Ascot was firmly on the radar in his final season.

He enjoyed his winter break and came back bigger, better and stronger ahead of a tilt at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, and an assault on the QIPCO British Champions Series.

A seasonal reappearance in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes went well, finishing second to superstar sprinter Lankan Rupee.

Brazen Beau then recorded a second Group 1 victory in the Lexus Newmarket Handicap at Flemington – beating star sprinter Chautauqua convincingly.

All roads now led to Ascot for the Royal meeting, where his date with destiny against the world’s finest would see how good he really was.

Ridden on the stands’ side, controversially, Brazen Beau ran a more than credible race under Australian jockey Craig Williams. Looking likely to be the winner for the vast majority of the contest, the Wesley Ward-trained American speedster Undrafted soared through the midfield late on under Frankie Dettori to deny the star a memorable victory.

Having claimed second place at Ascot, news broke that he was to move ownership to Godolphin.

A final race of his career in the Darley July Cup was too much for the well-travelled colt. He succumbed to superstar ability of Muhaarar at Newmarket’s July Course, but bowed out with his integrity intact.

Brazen Beau now stands at Northwood Park Stud in Australia, where he will stand for Darley as a stallion.

Will any of his progeny make the leap of faith into the QIPCO British Champions Series?