What has been the hardest thing about the move back to Australia?
To leave a wonderful team at Goffs UK and the friends we made over the past three years was gut wrenching, it was similar to when we moved to the UK in 2016. Whilst being a wonderful opportunity, challenge and adventure it doesn’t make leaving any easier. That said, I am excited about the future of Aquis and being a part of the expansive nature of the company, there is a hunger and vision to be the best, to lead the team forward will be rewarding to say the least.
Since announcing my return to Australia to take up the position as CEO at Aquis, the social media comments, contact from clients and friends from both Northern and Southern hemispheres has been amazing. I have always just done my job as I thought it needed to be done and in the best manner I could do it. Everyone has been exceptionally complimentary which has been overwhelming. I have the most amazing friends who are clients in both hemispheres, Australia will always be home, however the UK holds a special place for us.
Classic gets results, what’s your take on why that is?
As a proven source of Gr.1 success with winners the ilk of She Will Reign (Golden Slipper) and Vow And Declare (Melbourne Cup), as well as this season’s Shadow Hero, Samadoubt and Castelvecchio, the Inglis Classic Sale is renowned for its high class graduates.
The strength of the Classic Sale often comes through the extensive representation of first crop sires.
Aquis’ Divine Prophet and Kiss And Make Up, will be represented by 15 and 5 lots respectively.
With fantastic racing now also structured around the Sale with the move of Inglis HQ to Warwick Farm, Aquis are proud to be involved with the sponsorship of the Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes, a race won a few years back in impressive fashion by Spill The Beans, the Aquis stallion who unexpectedly passed away
last November.
What are the highlights of the Aquis offering at Classic?
Aquis will take a draft of 21 yearlings to the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale highlighted by Lot 402, a colt
by Fastnet Rock out of the half-sister to the dual Gr.1 winner Rumya. From the family of Gr.1 winner Virage de Fortune, this colt is only one of two yearlings by his sire in the sale.
Crowned Champion Victorian sire for the fourth consecutive year, Written Tycoon will be represented
by Lot 439, a colt out of the stakes placed Tale Of The Cat mare Select Cat from an international Gr.1 family while Lot 108 is a colt by Zoustar, the sire of our very own Lean Mean Machine and Sunlight, from the family of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock.
By the same sire as our Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet, who will be represented by Lot 6,
386 and 443 in our draft, Choisir is the sire of Lot 420, a filly out of a daughter of Savabeel, the broodmare
sire of the very smart, Aquis bred Gr.2 winner Not An Option.
For anyone heading to the Sale, please head over to the Aquis Pavilion for some refreshments or to chat to the Aquis sales team.
What’s in stall for 2020 and beyond?
The start of a new year is always exciting for anyone in the industry as it means the yearling sale season
is upon us. 2020 is set to see Aquis’ continued growth, and with the addition of Pierata to the roster for the season, coupled with an outstanding crop of weanlings coming through the Aquis system, we’re confident
of another high-quality year.
