News

2YO Accession Millennium-bound as Inglis graduates dominate on both sides of the Tasman

19th Jan 2019

Easter colt Accession firmed into TAB equal favourite for the $2m Inglis Millennium while Melbourne Premier graduate Enzo’s Lad secured back-to-back wins in the Telegraph Handicap on a big day for Inglis stars.

Ridden by James McDonald - who was replacing the suspended Hugh Bowman - Accession (Brazen Beau x Ready As Elle) proved himself one of the leading juveniles in the country with a four-and-three-quarter-lengths win over fellow Inglis graduate Avon River (Fastnet Rock).

Accession, described by McDonald as “a rocket’’ following the win, was a $300,000 Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy for Star Thoroughbreds and Chris Waller Racing, when offered by Widden Stud.

The 2YO was co-bred by Widden and Dany McMillan’s Jacob Park Thoroughbreds, who both retained a share in the talented colt.

Widden’s Antony Thompson always felt Accession was going to make an impressive racehorse.

“He was always a beautiful horse,’’ Thompson said.

“Henry Plumptre initially identified him and Denise Martin and the Star Thoroughbreds team then went on to purchase him at Henry’s recommendation and we were always going to retain a share in him.

“All roads lead to the Inglis Millennium now, and then who knows how far he can go.’’

Accession’s Zoustar half-brother is catalogued for Widden Stud at this year’s Easter Yearling Sale, for which the catalogue will be available next week.

Both Accession and runner-up Avon River will now target the $2m Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm on February 9.

Accession is one of two horses - along with Inglis Banner winner Espaaniyah - alive in the Inglis Triple Crown, where connections will win a $3m bonus if one horse wins both the Millennium and the Inglis Sires.

Inglis will offer 11 progeny of Darley stallion Brazen Beau at the upcoming Classic Yearling Sale (February 9-14), and 25 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands on March 3-6.

Vin Cox, Managing Director of Godolphin Australia, was looking forward to offering more Brazen Beau progeny at the Inglis sales in coming weeks and months.

Brazen Beau himself was an Inglis Classic graduate, selling for $70,000 to Grant Morgan's Ontrack Thoroughbreds, when offered by Murrulla Stud.

“Brazen Beau couldn’t have had a better start on the racetrack with the Slipper favourite Tassort and a Stakes winner so early in the season with Accession,’’ Cox said.

“He was a Champion sprinter turned star freshman and now looks to be producing two-year-old’s who can really run.

“He’s an exciting stallion to follow.’’

To view the Classic Yearling Sale catalogue, CLICK HERE.

To view the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile Enzo’s Lad made it back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.

Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa x Sheerama), a graduate of the 2014 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale when offered by Eliza Park International, defied his odds of $41 to claim his second Group 1 success.

The Reavill Farm-bred 6YO was $101 when he won the race last year.

The equal-third placegetter in today’s Telegraph Handicap, Signify, will have his Kermadec half sister (ex Pica Pica) offered at the Classic Yearling Sale as Lot 596 for Wentwood Grange.

View pedigree HERE.