It’s a fairly safe bet that, come 2.23pm Saturday, everyone associated with Aquis Farm will be either at Toowoomba racecourse or parked in front of a TV somewhere.
For the first 2YO race of the season in Queensland, Aquis Farm has a close interest in four of the nine runners: each of them by first season sire, The Mission.
Aquis Director of Sales, Jonathan Davies, is closer to the action than most and, while he’s not in the habit of handing out tips, he’s pretty excited about the prospects for the quartet.
And why not. Between The Mission and his first season barnmate, Spieth, the pair has secured a raft of winners from trials in the past few weeks on the Gold Coast, Deagon, Doomben, Sunshine Coast and, notably, Royal Randwick on Monday where Spieth netted two from two.
“Naturally a win on Saturday would be a huge boost but you really have to look at the bigger picture,” Davies points out.
“Sure, The Mission had a trial winner at Deagon (Mishani Sunshine) and followed up a week later with Mishani Warfare and Mishani Embrace winning their heats at Doomben, but it’s also about what’s waiting in the wings.
“Between The Mission and Spieth they already have over 60 named 2 year olds and while Les Ross holds the stage on Saturday, you also have The Missions with Ellerton / Zahra in Melbourne, Tony Gollan has a very good one up here in Queensland as do Toby and Trent Edmonds, while the Spieths are spread far and wide too: Shea Eden has one he paid $180,000 for, Annabel Neasham, Archie Alexander, Bjorn Baker, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Kris Lees, Mark Newnham …”
Indeed, Davies and his team are going to need eyes everywhere this spring if reports filtering through to the farm are any guide.
“We’ve got a very ‘young’ roster in that just four of the 16 stallions actually have runners,” Davies reveals. “Spieth and The Mission are deservedly generating plenty of talk but Invader, Jukebox and Kobayashi will likewise have their first runners this season.
“I think it’s a great sign when you have leading trainers sending their own mares to Invader and Jukebox this spring based on what they have in the stable, while Kacy (Fogden) has suggested that her Kobayashi is the equal of any 2YO she has in the boxes. And she’s had three Spieth trial winners!”
Although Davies believes the TV remote will get a good workout between now and Christmas, his crystal ball is putting in plenty of overtime as well. Three of the Aquis roster – Pierata, Dubious and Bellevue Hill – all have their first foals on the ground and, for someone charged with booking in the mares, Davies couldn’t be happier.
“Pierata has everyone talking … I’m not kidding,” Davies enthused. “We put out of a video of his foal from (multiple Group 1 winning mare) Loving Gaby at Segenhoe and that night I got a call from Mick Malone (Kitchwin Hills) to say ‘nice foal, but mine’s even better’.
“Then Wayne Beddgood from Cressfield is claiming he’s got a Pierata that’s the cream of the crop and Ged Nolan (Rosari) and Kelly Bond (Kenmore Lodge) are telling us that their Pieratas could be the best foals they have ever bred! He covered 169 mares last season so it’s extremely exciting to think of what is still to hit the ground."
“Similarly, the feedback about (Group 2 winning 2YO) Dubious is very encouraging, while I’m also really pleased for Belsin Thoroughbreds who part-owned Bellevue Hill and have a cracking foal from their Not A Single Doubt mare, Don’t Doubt Marley. Her Bellevue Hill foal is as good as any we’ve had on farm in the past six years,” Davies continued.
Davies has been in the industry long enough to not get too carried away “before acceptances”, but readily admits to being in an enviable position.
“No-one can predict the future but to have a host of trial winners and nearly half the field in the first 2YO race of the season by your first season sires, along with good reports about the progeny of sires with their initial runners, it’s much easier to get on the phone of a morning,” Davies adds.
“Throw in the first foals of three of your other stallions, plus having the first yearlings of Brave Smash, Lean Mean Machine, Performer and Santos heading to 2022 sales and it all makes for an interesting season.”
