Aquis Farm to maintain stallions as full roster relocates to Queensland
Aquis Farm will consolidate its stallion operations in Queensland in the latest shake-up of the large-scale racing and breeding operation, bringing an end to its four-year interstate stud experiment, with high-profile Group 1 winner Pierata (Pierro) to spearhead a 15-strong line-up at Canungra.
Justin Fung, Aquis Farm’s president, moved quickly to reassure breeders that he and his Hong Kong-based father Tony would remain major players in the Australian thoroughbred industry after months of speculation about their future.
“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 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 Valley operations to Lincoln Farm at Blandford after plans to stand the NSW roster at Gooree Park Stud were abandoned.
It also relinquished its lease on a property at Seymour in Victoria after two years, which has now been taken over by Leneva Park where resident stallions Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar) and Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit) remain.
In December, ANZ Bloodstock News revealed that Aquis Farm had made three nominations team members and two marketing staff redundant as it overhauled its stud business.
A month later, management was considering offers from rival studs to take on its Hunter Valley-based stallions with a decision initially expected to be made in early February on the successful suitors, but it did not come to fruition.
Fung yesterday went some way in addressing the upheaval and dramatic change in strategy.
“Stallions are a long-term plan and things change year-to-year, but ultimately, you have to be in this for the long game,” he said.
“We did take a few years to find our place and find our way and we’ve learned a lot. Now we think we have refined our model and our strategies and we’re looking long-term with this process moving forward.”
He added: “At the time (of starting Aquis Farm) we weren’t sure Queensland was ready and it took five years for us to learn and gain the confidence that this was in fact the case.
“The consolidation makes sense when we realised Queensland was ready and to bring everything back home.”
Director of sales Jonathan Davies will oversee the stallion division in Queensland.
“I am incredibly excited. It is really a dream come true for myself and it’s a massive shot in the arm for the Queensland breeding industry,” Davies said yesterday.
“Queensland breeders have shown that they are a resilient bunch and they have supported us through the past few years and I think it is as much a reward for them as it is for us to get the horses here.
“All our shareholders and lifetime breeding rights holders have been notified today and we have been overwhelmed by the support and the reception we have received.”
Now that Aquis has recommitted to standing stallions, Fung will liaise with Davies and the management team about other aspects of the business such as staffing.
“Jonathan Davies is our director of sales and whether we add staff or not, that is a discussion he is going to be having with me soon about what he needs to get his job done properly,” Fung said.
“With the staff we do have in Queensland at the moment, I am 100 per cent confident in their ability to get the job done.”
Aquis Farm, which sold high-class sprinting mare Houtzen (I Am Invincible) at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for US$1.5 million last year, still holds a high-quality broodmare portfolio which would be used to support the large stallion roster.
As for the stud selling bloodstock under its own banner or through other vendors, Fung revealed those decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis.
While there had been speculation over the future of the Aquis’ stallion operation, Tony Fung sent a clear message to the market in January at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale about his commitment to the industry, when he bought 19 yearlings in partnership with Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $11.6 million.
Fung, who raced last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), also bought the record-priced $525,000 Fastnet Rock (Danehill) colt on day one of this week’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
“My father is extremely excited about pushing forward with the racing division.” he said.
“We have been strong so far through 2021 and you are going to see that through the rest of the sales season going into (Inglis) Easter.”
As part of Aquis’ announcement, it also released the 2021 service fees for its roster which is headed by Pierata, who will remain at an unchanged fee of $44,000 (inc GST) after covering 168 mares, including 65 stakes performers, in his first season at stud last year.
Invader (Snitzel), whose first crop yearlings have sold up to $550,000 this year, will also remain at an unchanged fee of $22,000.
Aquis Farm stallion roster
2021 (2020)
Pierata (Pierro) $44,000 (unchanged)
Invader (Snitzel) $22,000 (unchanged)
Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom)$16,500 ($19,250)
Divine Prophet (Choisir) $16,500 ($22,000)
Dubious (Not A Single Doubt)$13,200 (unchanged)
Santos (I Am Invincible) $13,200 (unchanged)
Jukebox (Snitzel) $8,800 (unchanged)
Kiss And Make Up (More Than Ready) $8,800 (unchanged)
Spieth (Thorn Park) $8,800 ($11,000)
The Mission (Choisir) $8,800 (unchanged)
Bellevue Hill (Pierro) $6,600 ($11,000)
Performer (Exceed And Excel) $6,600 (unchanged)
Duporth (Red Ransom) $4,400 (unchanged)
Husson (Hussonet) $4,400 ($5,500)
Kobayashi (I Am Invincible) $3,300 (unchanged)
*all fees include GST