McGrath: ‘We’re having an unbelievable run at the moment – long may it continue’
Chris Humpleby catches up with Aquis Farm managing director Shane McGrath ahead of a key weekend for the operation’s juveniles, who continue to go from strength to strength
Large-scale investment, a robust infrastructure and a clear plan of action does not automatically preclude racecourse success, but Aquis Farm’s approach to the 2019 yearling sales – sourcing two-year-old types, colts in particular – is bearing fruit in formidable fashion this season.
Indeed, the familiar blue silks of the Fung family-owned operation will be carried by Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) hopeful Rathlin (Fastnet Rock) in Victoria’s blue riband tomorrow. One of six runners in the race for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, he will be joined by stable companion and Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Away Game (Snitzel), who is owned by an all-female partnership that includes Loretta Fung, wife of Aquis chairman Tony Fung.
Over in Sydney, both Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) and Global Quest (More Than Ready) will try to down Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) favourite Cellsabeel (Hinchinbrook) in an informative renewal of the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) at Rosehill.
Meanwhile, Global Quest’s Canonbury Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) conqueror Prague (Redoute’s Choice), a half-brother to Group 1 winner Stratum Star (Stratum), also forms part of Aquis’ arsenal, while Holyfield (I Am Invincible) announced himself as a colt with Group-race potential when winning at Sandown on Wednesday.
“We’re having an unbelievable run at the moment and long may it continue,” says Aquis managing director Shane McGrath when speaking to ANZ Bloodstock News.
“At the end of the day, it’s a huge part of our programme investing in colts and to give Mr Fung his credit, he’s backed the policy and the system and he’s getting his just rewards.
“Nobody has put more into the industry in the last few years and I don’t think anybody would begrudge the Aquis blue a Group 1 win in a leading future.”
Rathlin will attempt to achieve that feat in tomorrow’s Blue Diamond and the son of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) heads into the $1.5 million contest having finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length, behind market principals Hanseatic (Street Boss) and Rulership (I Am Invincible) in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (Gr 3, 1100m) on February 8.
“He went super (in the Prelude). He got held up a little bit at the top of the straight. He drew wide in the Magic Millions and it was a very good run (sixth) without winning,” McGrath says.
“We originally thought we’d go straight into the Blue Diamond, but he worked so well on the Tuesday Ciaron said we need to run him to top him off.
“He’s improved for the run and the great thing about him is that he’s got a great mind, he’s relaxed, and I anticipate he’ll cope with the pressure not only of the race, but the big occasion.”
A $725,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Kitchwin Hills, Rathlin is set to break from stall 12 under Ben Melham, and McGrath believes the colt has conditions in his favour, with the track rated a Soft 6 as of Thursday.
“He’s quite versatile – he’s shown he can sit up on the pace and from his barrier we’ll let him jump and see how the race unfolds,” he says.
“He doesn’t mind getting his toe in and Ciaron doesn’t feel the ground will be an issue. He worked good on Tuesday and the track won’t be a concern for him.
“He’s not one dimensional, he’s going to be strong late and I genuinely think he’s a winning chance.”
Away Game is the outlier in terms of Aquis’ juvenile success, being the sole filly in the top echelons, while the recent Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) winner was acquired in training after running fourth in Listed company on her debut at Sandown in November.
“She’s a credit to Kerri Radcliffe and Hannah Mathiesen for selecting her as a yearling,” McGrath says.
“We identified her when she ran fourth on her first start as a filly that looked a real Magic Millions prospect and we were fortunate enough to join the partnership.
“It’s been nothing but upside and blue skies from there. She’s obviously a filly that doesn’t mind a day out, like most of the girls, because she’s been to most of the good races for a two-year-old.”
Aquis’ success has helped propel Maher and Eustace to the forefront of the juvenile ranks this campaign and McGrath is understandably pleased to be teaming up with a long–standing ally.
He says: “I’ve had a great association with Ciaron over the years, and obviously David as well, and their success shows they’ve got the systems in place and they’re dominating the two-year-old ranks at the moment. I’m delighted we’re a part of it.”
Prague is perhaps Aquis’ most exciting colt to reside in the barns of Maher and Eustace, with the $1.6 million Gold Coast acquisition, who was bought in conjunction with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, currently $15 with the TAB for next month’s Golden Slipper.
Having led home an Aquis quinella with a length and three-quarters success in the Canonbury, he is being set for the Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick tomorrow week before heading to Sydney’s juvenile showpiece next month.
“He could be the dial changer – he’s a son of Redoute’s Choice, he’s a brother to a Group 1 winner and he’s a fabulous-looking individual,” McGrath says.
“He won well at Canterbury first-up, which we expected, but Ciaron rang me on the Tuesday morning leading into the Canonbury and said ‘you’ve got to run this horse – I can’t see how they’ll beat him’.
“It was a very smart, tactical race. A lot of people were anticipating speed but that didn’t eventuate and Prague went and made his own running.
“Tom Marquand gave him an outstanding ride, dictating and kicking, and he won very impressively. Tom gave us a really good report when he got off him, while he’s come on again for the run.”
Marquand, who also partnered Away Game in the Widden Stakes, rode 17 winners during his productive recent spell in Sydney.
Commenting on the prodigious British talent, who is set to return to Australia for a second stint next month, McGrath adds: “He’s obviously a pilot who’s riding with supreme confidence and he’s definitely on an upward trajectory.”
Prague’s stable companion Holyfield has been campaigned below the radar so far, but the son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) is set for a rise in class having shown an attitude befitting of his human namesake, former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, when winning at Sandown in the week.
“He’s a work in progress. There’s a nice race in New Zealand for him – the Group 1 Sistema Classic – and we’ll have a think about that for both him and Toscanini (Maher and Eustace-trained juvenile who is featured in today’s On The Watch),” McGrath says.
“He’s got the most amazing physique and to look at him, he looks like he’s ready for game day. But we just needed to take him through his grades, more mentally than anything else.
“That trip down to Melbourne – a new stable, a new environment – that’s going to bring him on a hell of a lot. He’s an exciting colt and we’ll just keep managing his programme to give him every chance.”
The bond between Aquis, Maher and Eustace will be temporarily suspended in tomorrow’s Silver Slipper as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Farnan, who ran tenth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and the Chris Waller-trained Global Quest (More Than Ready) seek to down Cellsabeel.
“Farnan had a little issue leading into the Magic Millions and things just didn’t go right for him,” McGrath says.
“He was very impressive in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic and he was definitely our number one seed heading into the Millions, but luck didn’t go our way.
“He’s trialled brilliantly since and Gai and Adrian have him up to the work, but I suspect he’ll need this run. He’ll probably go for something like a Todman into the Slipper, providing he is good enough.”
Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Global Quest’s suitability for the Golden Slipper is not for question, at least in the mind of Waller, whose opinion of the colt has long filled with McGrath with confidence.
“I thought he was super in the Canonbury – he had to give weight to Prague, who’d already had a run this prep,” McGrath says.
“Chris Waller has always been adamant he’s a Slipper horse and even after he won the Breeders’ Plate, which we were keen to run him in, Chris said afterwards ‘I’ve let you train him for the Breeders’ Plate, now let me train him for the Golden Slipper’. When Chris Waller says something like that you stand back and listen.
“Chris is a unique trainer in that every programme is geared around a grand final. He looked fantastic in the Canonbury but he was a long way from being nailed down for the big dance. He’ll come on again from this.”
Aquis’ achievements are evidently built on rock-solid foundations and McGrath revealed the importance of both collaborative projects and sound systems to the operation’s output.
“Part of our overriding policy is to try and develop new partners and new associations, and the majority of our colts we have other investors in. Hopefully they’re enjoying the ride as much as we are,” he says.
“Also, our whole racing and pre-training division is managed by Kacy Fogden and Sarah Gardiner and as soon as horses are purchased, they go straight into our system.
“They’re broken in and they go into our developmental programme which allows us to identify where they’re at mentally and physically and when they’re ready to go to a trainer.
“It’s no fluke that the last two Breeders’ Plate winners, Dubious and Global Quest, have come through our programme, so something is obviously working. Like anything, you’ve got to fine tune it and change it, but in the main if it’s not broken you’re not going to try and fix it.”
Aquis’ long-term outlook also extends to the racing division and McGrath has hinted at an audacious overseas bid for one or two of their juveniles later in the year, with Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup (Gr 1, 6f) appearing on the radar.
The £500,000 ($970,200) Group 1 is run over 1200 metres for northern-hemisphere three-year-olds, with southern hemisphere juveniles set to receive a 4.5 kilogram weight allowance.
“Timing wise, it’s definitely peaked our attention in the racing management team,” McGrath says.
“There might be a horse there if all things add up because it looks like a nice race, although I’m not sure which one it would be.
“Saying that, a horse like Rathlin – he’s versatile, he’s got a great mind and he’s the sort of horse you need to keep on top of and keep up to his work. When I was talking to Ciaron about the race, he was the first horse that sprang to mind.”
Aquis are clearly not an operation to rest on their laurels and McGrath was once again active at last month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, signing the docket for nine youngsters on behalf of Aquis alone – for a total spend of $4,465,000 – while the farm purchased another five lots in conjunction with various partners.
While McGrath believes the farm bought very well at last year’s Inglis Easter Australian Yearling Sale, including a three-quarter brother to The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), who is in training with Chris Waller, the opportunity to buy precocious types on the Gold Coast has coincided with Aquis’ approach to purchase colts who have the potential to stand as stallions further down the line.
“You’re always looking at potential broodmares, but our approach is more driven towards the colts,” McGrath says.
“We generally stick to our proven sires, which is the main driver, and that’s served us well so far, so we probably won’t deviate too much off that path moving forward.
“Some of our later purchases look like they’re going to be lovely back-end two-year-olds, but what we have up and about at the moment is what the market seems to sway towards.
“It’s a very expensive, hot market, so you’ve got to have a bit of luck, but it’s lucrative when you get it right.
He continues: “Look at the amount of mares being patronised by first, second or third season stallions, which shows it’s a non-traditional market here. But it’s up and it’s vibrant and you’re very much driven by market forces and you’ve got to work with those.”
Aquis is both working with, and shaping, market forces while their stallion roster numbers 14 across three properties in the Hunter Valley, Queensland and Victoria.
Those bases will no doubt be patronised by a number of their current juvenile crop after their track exploits are over and the synergy between sales ground, breeding shed and racecourse is a steadfast means of ensuring year-on-year success.
McGrath attributes these achievements to the vision of Tony Fung, saying: He’s passionate and he’s engaged in the whole process. He takes as much delight out of a midweek winner as a Group-race winner, so it’s thrilling to see someone do so well who has made such an investment.
“The success of Aquis has been of benefit to the industry overall and I’m delighted to play a small part of it.”