Queensland’s new Aquis Farm operation has Group 1 potential to burn

STRADBROKE Day confirmed Aquis Farm is set to be a major force in racing and this weekend the operation could be celebrating its first Group 1 success.

Aquis buy Cradle Me looms as a strong chance in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara on Saturday. Picture: AAP

STRADBROKE Day confirmed Aquis Farm is set to be a major force in Australian racing and this weekend the internationally owned operation may be celebrating its first Group 1 success with Cradle Me in the Tatts Tiara.

Cradle Me was purchased by Aquis for $300,000 at the MM National Sale and burst into Tiara calculations when taking the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes on June 11.

Later on the same day, new stallion acquisition Spill The Beans put an exclamation point on his career by claiming the QTC Cup.

Both were having their first run for Aquis. Spill The Beans, purchased off Arrowfield Stud, has since been retired and will stand for a fee of $11,000 alongside Benfica, Domesday and Mongolian Khan’s sire Holy Roman Emperor at Aquis Farm this year.

“What a great start. It was a magnificent day for us,” Aquis Farm chief operations manager Marcus Langer said.

“The way Spill The Beans won demonstrates the calibre of horse he is and we’re very happy to have him standing here with us.”

Aquis Farm is at the 450ha Canungra property formerly owned by Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm.

Aquis paid $15 million for the multi-purpose property, which houses a full training complex in addition to the breeding facility, and have spent many hundreds of thousands of dollars since making improvements.

The organisation is owned by Hong Kong-based businessman Tony Fung, who has a huge investment in Queensland, including plans to build a billion dollar Great Barrier Reef Resort in Cairns.

“Tony loves Queensland and supporting Queensland people. He wanted to have a tinkle with thoroughbreds and support the local breeding industry,” Langer said.

“It’s been a long, slow process to get to this point. We have done it over a number of stages. The first was to buy the farm, then we had to employ the right people, upgrade the facilities and finally buy the horses.”

Aquis has purchased more than 70 thoroughbreds this year for racing and breeding purposes. The broodmare band has swelled to 75, while there are 30 new yearlings on the books.

“We don’t have a lot of runners at the moment because we’re waiting for the yearling stock to come through,” Langer said.

Zac Purton has been booked to return from Hong Kong for the ride on Cradle Me, and trainer David Pfieffer said the rising eight-year-old continues to thrive.

“Her last couple of starts have come against the same type of horses she will be meeting on Saturday, so she has to be a great chance,” Pfieffer said. “Obviously, Azkadellia is a benchmark but, who knows, she might have come to the end of her preparation.

“We just have to cross our fingers for a decent barrier and I’m sure she will race well again.”

Originally published as Queensland’s new Aquis Farm operation has Group 1 potential to burn