TFI waiting for the price to be right with Economics
Among the plethora of stallion-making partnerships to have sprouted over recent years, Tony Fung’s Aquis Farm and TFI Racing endeavours ranks as undoubtedly one of the most successful.
From unearthing 2020 Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt), Group 3 winners Prague (Redoute’s Choice) and Anders (Not A Single Doubt), to dual Group 1 winner Mo’unga (Savabeel) and high-class juvenile Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel), the ‘aqua’ and black checked silks have acted as a conveyor belt for elite-level stud prospects, and on Saturday the operation will seek to bolster the profile of another on their books that is building an enviable record – and attracting significant stud interest.
Economics (Capitalist) has two wins from just three starts. Last time out, the Annabel Neasham-trained three-year-old returned first-up at Rosehill to claim the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m), a race won by Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), Wild Ruler (Snitzel) and Standout (Exceed And Excel) – three horses to have found a prominent place at stud – in each of the previous three years.
Victory down the Flemington straight in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) – widely regarded as the pre-eminent stallion-making race for three-year-olds – would elevate the son of Capitalist (Written Tycoon) into one of the most sought-after stud prospects in training, but, as with those before him, he is unlikely to end up on the roster of Aquis Farm, run by Tony Fung’s son, Justin, with TFI already in discussions with suitors over the potential stud destination for the horse.
“We’re very confident going into Saturday. We know he’s a very talented and fast colt. The Coolmore has been the goal all along this preparation, so we’re really looking forward to seeing what he can do,” TFI’s racing manager, Sally Williams, told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“TFI is primarily a stallion-making business. So, Economics would be (and is) on the market [to studs], as was Best Of Bordeaux, Mo’unga and Farnan etc.
“He’s available as a stud prospect to outside studs and there’s been a lot of interest in him already. Aquis Farm is [Tony’s] son Justin’s stallion business. Obviously, we all work together when need be, but they’re completely independent of each other.
“If Justin wanted to stand the horse he would have to compete with the other studs.
“We’ll get through Saturday first and then we’ll look at it and come up with a plan for both his stallion future and his racing future in the autumn.”
Economics, who rates as a $12 chance in the Coolmore, yesterday drew barrier 14 – alongside many of the market principles drawn on the standside in the 17-runner race – which features 13 colts and four fillies and includes the now Coolmore-majority-owned Best Of Bordeaux ($17), who has drawn barrier 17.
In addition to the undefeated Grand Impact (Satono Aladdin) ($10), Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) scorer Lofty Strike (Snitzel) ($23), Bews (I Am Invincible), fellow Victorian Alliance runner Doull (Snitzel) and the filly C’est Magique (Zoustar), Economics is aiming to become the first horse since the filly Nechita (Fastnet Rock) in 2012 to win the Group 1 at what would be just his fourth career start.
“He’s still got lots of improvement in him. He was a [Magic Millions] National Sale purchase, so he wasn’t one that we purchased super early. We’ve just been patient with him and given him the time that he needs,” Williams said.
“We’ve known from early on that he has a lot of ability, but we’ve just managed him and brought him along carefully.”
Economics has been pointed at the Coolmore since his Heritage Stakes victory more than a month ago and connections have been buoyed by a jump-out victory over 800 metres at Flemington last Friday.
“He gave Chad (Schofield, rider) such a good feel when he won impressively up the straight [in the jump-out],” Williams said. “We’re confident he’ll handle the straight and the draw seems to have worked out ok.”
Economics, who is out of the New Zealand-bred mare Anaaba’s Legacy (Anabaa), was a $260,000 purchase for TFI from the Lustre Lodge draft at Magic Millions’ end-of-season yearling sale. He is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Wolf Moon (Wandjina) and from the family of dual Group 1 winner in New Zealand, Ball Park (Ahonoora).
Among the 2021 purchases for TFI, Economics features alongside Listed winner Williamsburg (Snitzel), who finished fifth in the Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) last Saturday, and the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) runner-up Boyfriend (Snitzel), the pair bought from the Inglis Easter sale for $470,000 and $750,000 respectively.
Stakes placegetters Man In The Mirror (Not A Single Doubt), Flashing Steel (Not A Single Doubt) and Voldemort (Not A Single Doubt) were all purchased in partnership with Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale.
“Our management system starts at the yearling sales, ahead of which we do a lot of research,” Williams said. “We have a system for our selection process which we are pretty firm with. Our horses are all broken-in and pre-trained at Sarah Gardiner’s farm at Hinterland Thoroughbreds in Canungra.
“We’re a huge believer in our systems there and I think that’s a key to our success.”
While the three-year-old cohort continue to stamp their stallion credentials, Tony Fung Investments is set to unleash some of its latest juvenile prospects in the coming weeks.
Saturday’s two-year-old race at Eagle Farm sees Room For Squares (Rubick), the half-brother to dual Group 3 winner Shaquero (Shalaa), ‘out Mishanied’ by a remarkable 11 acceptances for Les Ross, leaving the colt as one of four emergencies.
He will, however, trial on Friday at Randwick along with one of the operation’s leading juvenile hopes Californian, a son of Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) and a $125,000 Magic Millions purchase.
“They are both nice horses and we’ll hopefully look to kick those two off in the Golden Gift next Saturday,” said Williams.