A not-so-humble Listed race at Warwick Farm in Sydney on Saturday, 9 February could well demonstrate the influence of the Darley stallions on this year’s running of the world’s richest two-year-old race.
Whatever the result, pre-race discussion on the $2 million Inglis Millennium is dominated by Accession, a son of Brazen Beau, and Dawn Passage, a Dawn Approach colt who demolished a handy field at Randwick at his only start.
As well as being the best pair on paper in Saturday’s race, Accession and Dawn Passage – along with Godolphin’s Brazen Beau colt Tassort – are leading prospects for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, 23 March.
The Inglis Millennium is restricted to horses who were offered through the Inglis yearling sales and has attracted the best field of juveniles assembled in Australia this season.
Accession’s outstanding performances to date also strengthen the form of Godolphin filly Athiri (Lonhro) who trounced him by two lengths on their debuts.
Athiri reappears on Saturday in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) at Caulfield.
Athiri is from the Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina and is a half-sister to the handy Godolphin performer Savatiano.
Her second dam, G1 winner Star Shiraz, produced five winners from five to race, including Godolphin winners Meursault and Syrah.
Accession, a $300,000 yearling at the 2018 Inglis Easter Sale, is a son of the More Than Ready mare Ready As Elle, a high-speed filly who won five races.
Dawn Passage winning at Royal Randwick
Dawn Passage, who cost exactly half as much at last year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale is from the G3 winner Raja Lane whose seven to race have all won and include the G3 winner Dinkum Diamond.
Tassort, however, has by far the most impressive pedigree and the form to match.
The son of Brazen Beau, a five-length winner at his only start, is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Essaouira, also dam of G1 winner and young Darley stallion Astern (Medaglia d’Oro).
Tassort’s pedigree also had a significant update last weekend when his half-sister Alizee (Sepoy) destroyed a quality field in the G2 Expressway Stakes at Rosehill.
Lot 544: Colt by Brazen Beau x Ms Mazetti
Brazen Beau is well represented at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, beginning in Sydney on Saturday, with 11 yearlings catalogued including Lot 544, a colt from the Lonhro mare Ms Mazetti.
Offered by Bowness Farm, the colt has attracted plenty of interest.
“He’s the most popular of ours in terms of inspections, he’s a lovely colt,” said John North of Bowness.
Another to catch the eye is Lot 41, a filly from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Alysiana, whose strong international pedigree includes Royal Ascot Hardwicke Stakes winner Maraahel and Ventura Storm, a G1 winner in Italy, plus the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup in Australia.
Dawn Approach has six yearlings catalogued at the Classic Sale including Lot 129, a filly from the unraced Magic Albert mare Aspen Princess and from a family which includes G1 Coolmore Classic and G2 Surround Stakes winner Regal Cheer and the G2 winner and G1 Golden Slipper placegetter Regal Chamber.
