Brazen Beau's breeder Bernie Howlett hopes the sprinting star can buck the trend of Australian entries and end his brief but wonderful career on a high with victory in the July Cup.
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Bred at Howlett's Berant Park property in between Hall and Murrumbateman, Brazen Beau is among the leading chances in the $1.03 million feature over 1207 metres at Newmarket Racecourse on Sunday morning (Australian time).
The dual group 1 winner will be making his final start before the three-year-old is put out to stud for a service fee of $44,000.
Howlett travelled to Ascot in June to see Brazen Beau get beaten by a neck in the group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Brazen Beau has again drawn a wide barrier, adding another challenge in a race where the Australian raiders have traditionally struggled.
"He should run well, but it is a very hard 1200 and Australian horses that have gone over there haven't been able to win it," Howlett said.
"He's drawn 15 out of 15 and he drew the outside at Ascot, too. It's been one of those races that's proved to be a hard trip for them. He's there and his fit, so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed."
Howlett sold Brazen Beau for $70,000 two years ago to trainer Chris Waller.
The three-year-old colt has won more than $1.4 million in prizemoney with a record of 5-3-0 from 10 starts.
Brazen Beau beat the world's best sprinters in emphatic fashion to win the group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.
It is is his final race before beginning his breeding career as a stallion for mega-stud Darley, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who also owns the Godolphin stables.
"I think they're going down the right path with him," Howlett said.
"To be successful, especially in Australia, they need to come off the racecourse without having a really hard racing career. They've obviously had a lot of experience retiring horses to stud and I think they've done the right thing."
Howlett could have another champion on the way. The syndicate that races Brazen Beau has purchased his full brother.
"He's rising one-year-old, so they've come along and purchased him at an early age," Howlett said.
"You hope he can rise to great heights the same as Brazen Beau, but you don't know until you put them on the racetrack."
