3 minute read
It has certainly been an exciting week for Aquis Farm, from securing one of Australia's most sought after stud prospects to buying yearlings in Europe and winning a coveted Group race at Randwick.
A highlight was confirmation that Aquis Farm had acquired the controlling interest in the G1 winner and Everest favourite Pierata. He will start his stud career at the Hunter Valley arm of Aquis Farm in 2020.
Pierata was rewarded with his first G1 win in the autumn in the All-Aged Stakes at Randwick and has raced twice this season at the same course for a first-up second in the G3 Concorde Stakes and a brilliant win in the G2 Shorts, form that has him on top of the betting for the $13 million Everest at Randwick on October 19.
Pierata's earlier form includes a win in the Magic Millions Guineas and second in the G1 Randwick Guineas as a 3YO and wins in the G2 Missile Stakes and G3 Sydney Stakes and G1 placings VRC Sprint and ATC Galaxy as a 4YO.
With a rising Timeform rating of 126, Pierata is shining star for Lonhro's best son Pierro.
He is out of the G3 winner November Flight, a daughter of Golden Slipper winner and leading broodmare sire Flying Spur and is regarded as a perfect fit for the Aquis Farm roster by CEO Shane McGrath.
"We have been watching Pierata for some time. He has continued to improve throughout his racing career and we are excited for what the future holds," McGrath said.
"Aquis will support him heavily by sending many of our best mares, but no doubt he will also receive significant support from all breeders."
November Flight, who won seven races including the G3 Millie Fox Stakes, is also the dam of the G3 winner and G1 placegetter Ashokan (More Than Ready).
She is out of November Song (Zabeel), a half-sister to the Listed winner Crozier (Godswalk). It's also the family of the G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Natural Blitz (Maroof).
Bred by Hobartville Stud, Pierata was offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2016 by Kitchwin Hills and was bought by trainer Greg Hickman for $160,000.
Pierata will race in the Aquis Farm slot in The Everest.
Further afield Aquis Farm was a leading buyer at the two-day Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland.
Aquis teamed with Phoenix Thoroughbreds to secure a €1.1 million filly by Galileo a son of Sea The Stars for €500,000 whose grand-dam is a Sadler's Wells sister to the late sire High Chaparral.
Aquis also purchased an Exceed And Excel colt for €430,000. He ls from the family of outstanding racemare and producer Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom) out of the Galileo dam Symposia.
Aquis rounded out the big week on a high with a win in the G3 Breeders Plate at Randwick by Global Quest, an exciting More Than Ready colt the stud purchased as a yearling for $340,000.