FOCUS ASIA SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX EVERY WEEKDAY ANZBLOODSTOCKNEWS.COM/ASIA Thursday, March 11, 2021 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here IN HER TIME TO CHAIRMAN'S SALE - PAGE 19 THIRD FOR STAR TURN - PAGE 14 HONG KONG NEWS - PAGE 24 PAGE ?? Aquis Farm to Read Tomorrow's Issue For Maiden Of The Week maintain stallions What's on Race meetings: Goulburn (NSW), Moree (NSW), Kilmore (VIC), Pakenham (VIC), as full roster relocates Townsville (QLD), Bunbury (WA), Riccarton (NZ) Barrier trials / Jump-outs: Goulburn (NSW), Moree (NSW), Randwick (NSW), to Queensland Wyong (NSW), Oakbank (SA) Fung reassures industry that stud will remain major players International meetings: Southwell (UK), Newcastle (UK), Meydan (UAE) SALES NEWS Cornerstone’s time to shine as Hayes’ Capitalist colt makes $425,0000 A colt by boom sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon), who commanded competition from two significant Pierata SPORTPIX international entities, has capped a record Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale and provided high-profile Group 1 winner Pierata (Pierro) famed local stud Cornerstone with the impetus BY TIM ROWE | @ANZ_NEWS to spearhead a 15-strong line-up at Canungra. to consider offering more of its best-credentialed quis Farm will consolidate Justin Fung, Aquis Farm’s president, moved horses to the market in South Australia. its stallion operations in quickly to reassure breeders that he and his Prominent Singapore outfit Aramco Racing, Queensland in the latest shake- Hong Kong-based father Tony would remain bidding online, won the $425,000 battle for the up of the large-scale racing and major players in the Australian thoroughbred prized Cornerstone Stud-bred and consigned colt Abreeding operation, bringing an end to its industry after months of speculation about after being pushed by under-bidder, US-owned four-year interstate stud experiment, with their future. Continued on page 3>> Spendthrift Australia.. Sales News page 7 >> Follow us @anz_news | 1 | Brought to you by INVADING by numbers snitzel x flame of sydney (encosta de lago) pierro x november flight (flying spur) $5,800,000 in prizemoney Leading Australian First Season Sire at Magic Millions January and Inglis Classic mares covered in 2020 168 Selling up to 20 times his service fee, 65 Stakes Performers and 30 dams selling to $550,000 of Stakes Performers Average from all sales* is $140,000 - more than 5 times his service fee * to 24 February 2021 Jonathan Davies: 0423 033 858 | Paul Knight: 0410 683 469 AQUISFARM.COM Aquis Farm to maintain stallions as full roster relocates to Queensland | 3 | Thursday, March 11, 2021 << Continued from page 1 “I am cognisant of the fact that people question what the future of Aquis is or what our motivations are, but I really hope that this is something we are doing to really address all that and I think it speaks volumes about the approach we are taking right now,” Fung told ANZ Bloodstock News from the US yesterday. When questioned further, Fung reiterated that the Aquis racing and breeding empire would not be disappearing from the Australian industry any time soon. “Aquis is 100 per cent here to stay. If this doesn’t quell some of the rumours, I am not really sure what else I can do to address them,” he said. “While there have been changes in the past, I really want to reassure people that this is the vision going forward and we are now on the path.” That vision will see Pierata, Invader (Snitzel), Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom), Divine Prophet (Choisir), Spieth (Thorn Park), Santos (I Am Invincible), Jukebox (Snitzel) and Bellevue Hill (Pierro) stand at Aquis’ Gold Coast property after spending last season at Lincoln Farm in the Hunter Valley. They will join the likes of Dubious (Not A Single Doubt), The Mission (Choisir), Kiss And Make Up (More Than Ready) and Performer (Exceed Justin and Tony Fung AQUIS FARM And Excel) on the 2021 Aquis stallion roster. Aquis, which started in 2015 on the Gold Coast, had been leasing Emirates Park at Murrurundi since 2017 but was forced to shift its Hunter Queensland was ready and it took five years for us to learn and gain the Valley operations to Lincoln Farm at Blandford after plans to stand the confidence that this was in fact the case. NSW roster at Gooree Park Stud were abandoned. “The consolidation makes sense when we realised Queensland was It also relinquished its lease on a property at Seymour in Victoria after ready and to bring everything back home.” two years, which has now been taken over by Leneva Park where resident Director of sales Jonathan Davies will oversee the stallion division in stallions Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar) and Royal Meeting (Invincible Queensland. Spirit) remain. “I am incredibly excited. It is really a dream come true for myself In December, ANZ Bloodstock News revealed that Aquis Farm and it’s a massive shot in the arm for the Queensland breeding industry,” had made three nominations team members and two marketing staff Davies said yesterday. redundant as it overhauled its stud business. “Queensland breeders have shown that they are a resilient bunch and A month later, management was considering offers from rival studs to they have supported us through the past few years and I think it is as much take on its Hunter Valley-based stallions with a decision initially expected a reward for them as it is for us to get the horses here. to be made in early February on the successful suitors, but it did not come “All our shareholders and lifetime breeding rights holders have been to fruition. notified today and we have been overwhelmed by the support and the Fung yesterday went some way in addressing the upheaval and reception we have received.” dramatic change in strategy. Now that Aquis has recommitted to standing stallions, Fung will “Stallions are a long-term plan and things change year-to-year, but liaise with Davies and the management team about other aspects of the ultimately, you have to be in this for the long game,” he said. business such as staffing. “We did take a few years to find our place and find our way and we’ve “Jonathan Davies is our director of sales and whether we add staff or learned a lot. Now we not, that is a discussion he is going to be having with me soon about what think we have refined he needs to get his job done properly,” Fung said. AQUIS IS 100 PER CENT HERE TO our model and our “With the staff we do have in Queensland at the moment, I am 100 per STAY. IF THIS DOESN’T strategies and we’re cent confident in their ability to get the job done.” QUELL SOME OF THE RUMOURS, looking long-term Aquis Farm, which sold high-class sprinting mare Houtzen (I Am I AM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT with this process Invincible) at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for US$1.5 ELSE I CAN DO TO ADDRESS moving forward.” million last year, still holds a high-quality broodmare portfolio which THEM He added: “At the would be used to support the large stallion roster. - JUSTIN FUNG time (of starting Aquis As for the stud selling bloodstock under its own banner or through Farm) we weren’t sure other vendors, Fung revealed those Continued on page 5>> Follow us @anz_news | 3 | Brought to you by Why SELL WITH INGLIS? • CONVENIENCE AND TIMING Sell at home, without concern for border restrictions, in NSW/VIC where the majority of the major buyers are domiciled Get first crack at the money at the Australian Broodmare Sale or leverage urgency in the market at the Great Southern Broodmare Sale, the last live breeding stock auction before the start of the breeding season... • REDUCED SALES COMMISSION • MAJOR BUYERS FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA AND BEYOND Entries close soon for Australian Broodmare Sale www.inglis.com.au Aquis Farm to maintain stallions as full roster relocates to Queensland | 5 | Thursday, March 11, 2021 << Continued from page 3 decisions would be made on a case-by- case basis. Aquis Farm stallion roster While there had been speculation over the future of the Aquis’ stallion 2021 2020 operation, Tony Fung sent a clear message to the market in January at Pierata (Pierro) $44,000 unchanged the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale about his commitment to Invader (Snitzel) $22,000 unchanged the industry, when he bought 19 yearlings in partnership with Phoenix Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom) $16,500 $19,250 Thoroughbreds for $11.6 million. Divine Prophet (Choisir) $16,500 $22,000 Fung, who raced last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) $13,200 unchanged winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), also bought the record-priced Santos (I Am Invincible) $13,200 unchanged $525,000 Fastnet Rock (Danehill) colt on day one of this week’s Magic Jukebox (Snitzel) $8,800 unchanged Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Kiss And Make Up (More Than Ready) $8,800 unchanged “My father is extremely excited about pushing forward with the racing Spieth (Thorn Park) $8,800 $11,000 division.” he said. The Mission (Choisir) $8,800 unchanged “We have been strong so far through 2021 and you are going to see that Bellevue Hill (Pierro) $6,600 $11,000 through the rest of the sales season going into (Inglis) Easter.” Performer (Exceed And Excel) $6,600 unchanged As part of Aquis’ announcement, it also released the 2021 service Duporth (Red Ransom) $4,400 unchanged fees for its roster which is headed by Pierata, who will remain at an Husson (Hussonet) $4,400 $5,500 unchanged fee of $44,000 (inc GST) after covering 168 mares, including Kobayashi (I Am Invincible) $3,300 unchanged 65 stakes performers, in his first season at stud last year.