Breednet: Smashing it Out of the Park

Brave Smash (JPN)

From Breednet: The Magic Millions National Weanling Sale soared to new heights this year with a buoyant market so strong it was likened to an elite yearling sale and for this exciting young sire it may well prove to be an eye-opening taste of what is to come.

A dual Group I winning sprinter in Australia, Japanese bred Brave Smash (Jpn) was the surprise hit of this record breaking sale finishing as the fourth leading first crop sire by average (three or more sold) behind only The Autumn Sun (2021 fee $66,000), Justify (2021 fee $55,000) and Trapeze Artist (2021 fee $66,000).

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Queensland Breeders The Big Winner As Aquis Farm Brings Top Stallions Home

Pierata

Aquis Farm President, Justin Fung, is pleased to announce that $5.8 million prizemoney earner Pierata, together with Aquis’ full 2020 New South Wales stallion roster, will call Queensland home this year.

Mr Fung said the roster was the envy of some of the biggest stud farms in the southern hemisphere and reflected Aquis’ confidence in the future of the Queensland racing industry.

“Pierata was one of the most exciting first season stallions to stand at stud in the Hunter Valley last year. He covered an astonishing 168 mares, of which 65 were stakes performers, including Loving Gaby,” Mr Fung said.

“It is only fitting that he, and the rest of our stallions, find their way to our historical home at Canungra.

“We have always had confidence in the Queensland breeding and racing industry, the QTIS prizemoney and the strength of the racing calendar dictated that we have a bigger presence in Queensland.”

Mr Fung said the Queensland breeding team would be headed up by Director of Sales, Jonathan Davies.

“Jonathan has built a strong team around him that is the backbone of this operation. I am immensely proud of what he and his team have been able to achieve,” he said.

“Good fertility results and excellent horsemanship are a testament to how knowledgeable and dedicated they are to the Aquis philosophy of ‘Success is achieved by teamwork, innovation and supporting their clients and the industry at all levels’.”

The Aquis Farm brand was initially established in Queensland in 2015 following the acquisition of a 480-hectare facility at Canungra on the Gold Coast hinterland.

After standing four stallions in its debut season in 2016 the company has gone on to build one of the most enviable rosters in the southern hemisphere and enjoyed strong patronage from breeders across Australia.

In 2021, Aquis Farm’s roster will be headlined by Pierata, who made the move to Canungra from the Hunter Valley and will stand at a service fee of $44,000 (incl. GST). On the track, Piereta won over $5,800,000 in prizemoney winning the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick as a four-year-old.

The roster also includes Invader, Snitzel’s best two-year-old, who has covered great books of mares in his first three years at stud.

Mr Fung said his progeny had been well received by trainers and bloodstock agents at the major sales this year and the initial feedback from breakers with his stock was very encouraging.

“We are confident that feedback will correlate into racetrack success in the coming racing season,” he said.

Spieth, another of our first season stallions with progeny selling this year, has been well received by buyers, averaging $118,000 at this month’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Spieth will stand in 2021 for a fee of $8,800. He is leaving a good physical type with a good temperament that trainers love, he is a very exciting prospect going forward.

Bellevue Hill, Brave Smash, Divine Prophet, Jukebox and Santos will be the other stallions calling Queensland home, they will be barn mates to Dubious, who was the busiest first season sire in Queensland last year and Champion 2YO The Mission, Husson, Duporth, Kobayashi, Kiss And Make Up and Performer.

As part of this announcement, Aquis have also confirmed their 2021 stallion fees. See below.

Please contact Jonathan Davies on 0423 033 858 or the team at Aquis Farm to schedule a private viewing of the stallion roster.

Man He Was Quick…

With the running of the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes this coming Friday, looking back through the historical records of the race stills sees Brave Smash (Jpn) as the fastest male to ever win the race.

Scoring in a time of 1:09.36 in the 2018 running of the elite level Gr.1 sprint contest, Brave Smash stopped the clock in a quicker time than outstanding sprinters Lankan Rupee, Chautauqua, Redoute’s Choice, Hay List, Buffering and Sepoy.

Not only dis Brave Smash prove his worth in the Manikato Stakes, but also toppled fellow Japanese breeder runner and Victorian-based sire Tosen Stardom in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes at weight-for-age, while also gaining further Gr.1 placings in the VRC Newmarket Handicap (twice), MVRC AJ Moir Stakes and MRC CF Orr Stakes.

As the fastest son from the Sunday Silence sireline to standing at stud in Australia, Brave Smash was rewarded with a high quality book of mares in his first season, with breeders ecstatic with the resultant foals being born this season.

Take a look at some of the clips below and listen to the leading industry breeders as they discuss their first crop Brave Smash foal

Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Verna Metcalfe discuss the Brave Smash x Meri Rani filly

Kitchwin Hill’s Mick Malone chats about the Brave Smash x Our Girl Raquie filly

Listen to Gooree Park Stud’s Andrew Baddock as highlights the Brave Smash x Tris colt

To view further first crop foal videos, click HERE, or alternatively to discuss Brave Smash with one of the Aquis Sales Team, click HERE.

Second Crop Sires Offer Wealth of Opportunity

The use of stallions in their second season has led to the conception of some outstanding racetrack performers including Champion 2YO’s, Champion 3YO’s, Champion Stayers, Champion Sprinters and Champion Sires of the future.

Winners of iconic races such as the Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cup, Australian Guineas, Australian Derby, Rosehill Guineas and Doncaster were all bred from the second crop of stallions that have often gone on to achieve greatness.

First foals offer breeders the chance to test the waters and if they like what they see, a stallion often does even better with his second crop as breeders support their intuition of impending success with quality mares.

Aquis have four outstanding young sires that fit the second crop profile in dual Group I winning sprinter Brave Smash (Jpn) as well as Santos (I Am Invincible), Performer (Exceed and Excel) and Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar), the last trio all sons of champion sires.

Early reports on their progeny have been glowing.

Brave Smash in particular has found plenty of favour with the following comments from well satisfied breeders!

“We have switched over a further five mares to Brave Smash.”

“We could not have wished for a better start.”

“Great scope and athleticism.”

“I hope they’re all like this, then you know you’re onto a good thing.”

“The Brave Smash foal from Mead is a good size with plenty of strength and quality about him. He shows great scope and athleticism to develop as he matures,” said Alison Hush of Davali Thoroughbreds.

“He has good bone and conformation, it’s hard to knock him on anything really. We are expecting quite a few Brave Smash foals this season and we will be very happy if they are all as good as this colt”

As a stunning son of I Am Invincible, Santos is producing the goods!

“We’ve had three Santos foals arrive so far this season, and what an impressive group they are! They are strong, correct, lovely bodied foals with great bone under them. They’ll develop into exceptional weanlings, and best of all they’re athletic…Santos has really stamped these foals,” said Verna Metcalfe of Middlebrook Valley Lodge.

“Lovely strong attractive filly with good conformation. She’s a cracker maiden foal. We will definitely be using Santos again in the future,” said David Morrisey of Cannon Hayes Stud.

The only son of champion sire Zoustar at stud in Victoria, Lean Mean Machine has stamped his foals!

“I have had three Lean Mean Machine foals so far this season and they are magnificent. He has stamped his stock and he can throw a type. As good as any other foals on my farm!” said Paul Kelly of Ponderosa Park.

Performer is also hitting the mark with his quality foals.

“We are extremely excited to be a part of Performer’s first crop with this stunning colt out of But Perfect,” said Hopetoun Bloodstock’s Murray Webster.

“Performer is a talented, well put together son of Exceed And Excel and out of a Group 1-producing Snippets mare and he has certainly stamped his foals with his best attributes, speed, precocity and type.

“I expect his first yearlings to sell extremely well and I have no hesitation recommending Performer to my clients as a breeding option in 2020.”

To view more Aquis first crop foal videos, click here.