Gold Coast-based Aquis Farm finalises list of eight stallions for 2017

AQUIS Farm has extended its aggressive move into the ­national breeding market by standing the largest number of stallions at one Queensland stud next season.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse with Kiss And Make Up. Photo: Gregg Porteous.

AQUIS Farm has extended its aggressive move into the ­national breeding market by standing the largest number of stallions at one Queensland stud next season.

The stud has been at all the major sales this year and was able to sell all its main lots at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale for $3.5 million.

Aquis Farm, which is based at Canungra in the Gold Coast Hinterland, stood four stallions last year – Spill the Beans, Holy Roman Emperor, Benfica and Domesday.

Kiss and Make Up, Husson, Furnaces and Sweet Orange have been added to the roster.

It is a major boost for the Queensland breeding industry after the state’s biggest stud, Glenlogan Park, dramatically scaled back its operation.

Former top NSW country trainer Greg Bennett has ­arrived at Aquis to take up his new job as director of racehorse development.

Chief executive Justin Fung said Bennett would manage the development of all the ­racing stock at Aquis from when they were bought until they ­retired.

Fung, whose family owns the facility, said the full roster of eight stallions met Aquis Farm’s commitment to the industry to provide local access to quality bloodstock.

“We are totally committed to establishing Aquis Farm as one of Australia’s leading stallion farms and we think we are demonstrating that with our 2017 roster,” Fung said.

“We are delighted with how our new stallions have been ­received already and we await the new breeding season with excitement.”

The addition of Kiss And Make Up, Husson, Sweet ­Orange and Furnaces this year is a deliberate move to create a more diverse range of options for breeders and an increase in bloodlines to choose from.

The sires will have service fees ranging from $4400 for Benfica and Sweet Orange to $16,500 for the former Gai Waterhouse-trained Kiss And Make Up, a three-year-old who was retired due to injury.

Kiss And Make Up won his first two starts before finishing down the track behind Capitalist in the 2016 Golden Slipper.

By More Than Ready from the Group 1-winning mare Fashions Afield, Kiss And Make Up had beaten Capitalist in the Todman Stakes in the lead-up to the Slipper.

Furnaces is a Group 3-­winning horse who was the early favourite for the 2015 Golden Slipper.

The stallion won the Group 3 ATC Kindergarten Stakes and was second to Golden Slipper winner Vancouver in the Todman Stakes.

Furnaces, a son of Exceed And Excel, was retired early after winning three times at 1100m.

SIRES & FEES

Kiss And Make Up* … $16,500

Husson * $13,200

Spill The Beans $11,000

Holy Roman Emperor $9900

Furnaces* $9900

Domesday $8800

Sweet Orange* $4400

Benfica $4400

* New for 2017