Waller goes into bat for his old Beau

4 min read

'Just like his dad' was Chris Waller's description after classy 2-year-old winner Accession put himself in the frame for the inaugural $2million Inglis Millennium on February 9.

Brazen Beau was a two-time G1 winner for Waller and went within a whisker of winning the 2015 G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before heading to stand at Darley later that year.

Accession is from Brazen Beau's first crop and has now provided two of his three Australian winners but Waller believes there are plenty more to come.

"It's a funny world the breeding industry, they support sires in their first and second season at stud, but then seem to drop off them and wait for them to do something. They can just drop off the radar a bit," Waller said. "Hopefully we will get our hands on a few more of his progeny."

"Hopefully we will get our hands on a few more of his progeny." - Chris Waller

Brazen Beau

Accession carried top weight but made light work of rivals after the colt displayed unflappable demeanour in the pre-race parade ring. "Colour, type, speed," Waller said when asked what it was that was most reminiscent of Brazen Beau.

"And that temperament is just like his dad's, maybe that will help him get on a plane one day and go one better than his dad at Royal Ascot."

"And that temperament is just like his dad's, maybe that will help him get on a plane one day and go one better than his dad at Royal Ascot." - Chris Waller

For now the targets are much sooner, with the $2million Inglis Millennium on February 9 next, a race Waller has programmed his horse's preparation around.

"He wouldn't have been in work if it wasn't for that race, he would be still resting and getting ready for a Slipper prep," Waller said of the feature race of Inglis' inaugural race day at Warwick Farm. "That's why these races are great, they get the good horses out early and keep them racing longer."

'Colour, type and speed' - Chris Wallers comparison of Accession to his sire, Brazen Beau

Saturday's stake money should help Accession if he eventually makes his way to the Slipper, given his previous win in the L. Inglis Nursery late last year is also a restricted race that doesn't count towards order of entry.

Maybe a little too laid back

A bombproof temperament can help a 2-year-old immensely but when syndicator Denise Martin first saw Accession in Chris Waller's stable she wondered whether he would gallop at all.

"He came into the stables in the middle of last year and I said to Chris, ‘I hope he wakes up'," Martin said.

"He just has a great way about him. He is out of a More Than Ready (USA) mare, and I love More Than Ready, I just thought he was a beautifully balanced colt. He has the looks, he handled the sale really well because he has that attitude. Good horses have good attitudes."

"He came into the stables in the middle of last year and I said to Chris, ‘I hope he wakes up'." - Star Throughbreds, Denise Martin

Former Darley Australia boss Henry Plumptre helped identify Accession as a possible yearling purchase for Martin, pointing to a pedigree that made the brown colt a relation to Singapore's champion sprinter Emperor Max (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

It was love at first sight for Martin but she had to go beyond her usual budget to buy the colt for $300,000 at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

"I thought he was pretty special and it was just a matter of whether or not I could afford him," Martin said. "We worked with Henry to find some nice yearlings for us, he picked two out for us and we bought them both, I don't usually pay $300,000 but I had to have him. These are Brazen Beau's oldest horses and I have three of them. I hope my other two are as good."

Brazen Beau has a single lot at next week's New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale and 10 horses catalogued at the upcoming 2019 Classic Yearling Sale.

Accession as a yearling