Aussie Sprinters On Target For Ascot

Two Australian sprinters have pleased their trainers in advance of a trip to Royal Ascot next month. The Chris Waller trained Brazen Beau (Aus) (I Am invincible {Aus}) worked four furlongs at Flemington Friday morning under Craig Williams. Waller was delighted with what he saw of the dual Group 1 winning sprinter who has the option of running in the G1 Kings Stand S. or the G1 Diamond Jubilee S.

Waller commented, “That was exactly what we wanted to see a few weeks away from a very big race on the other side of the world. We’re unlikely to make a decision on which race he contests until acceptance time. Brazen Beau needs a good track so it’s very important that he runs on a good surface so I guess the weather will determine which way we head. If the weather forecast suggested that it was going to be a really fine week then I’d be leaning towards the Diamond Jubilee over the 1200 meters, but he’s ready to run in either race.” 

Brazen Beau was accompanied in his gallop by the Gai Waterhouse trained Wandjina (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who is bound for the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Damien Oliver guided the G1 Australian Guineas winner through his paces and Waterhouse believes the colt’s proven stamina will be a key asset when he faces the European sprinters. 

“Wandjina’s a horse that’s won the Australian Guineas over 1600 meters, that is also very effective over 1400 meters which is important”, Waterhouse told www.racing.com. “Even though the distance is 1200 [meters] it’s not like what we have in Australia, it’s quite grueling and it needs a horse that can finish off and he certainly can. We wouldn’t be going unless we were confident and Ollie will be the right man for the job, he’s a great thinking jockey and he’s riding on the Tuesday before, which I’m very pleased about.”