Aquis Active At Inglis

The Fung Family's Aquis Farm continued on its streak to acquire quality bloodstock during the second session of the Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale on Tuesday, taking home the two highest-priced lots of the day. The 3-year-old maiden filly Our Girl Raquie (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 162) topped the session of select broodmares with a bid of A$500,000 from Aquis and Blue Sky Bloodstock. The unraced filly is out of Ten Carat Rock (Aus) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who is herself a daughter of Shantha's Choice (Aus) (Canny Lad {Aus}) and therefore a half-sister to Redoute's Choice (Aus) (Danehill) and fellow Group 1 winners Platinum Scissors (Aus) (Danehill) and Manhattan Rain (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), as well as multiple stakes producer Monsoon Wedding (Aus) (Danehill). Our Girl Raquie is a half to the dam of young Coolmore sire Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). She was the lone horse consigned to the sale by Teeley Assets.

The session maintained a strong clearance rate of 88%; however, compared to last year's session, which saw three sold for a half-million or more, other figures took a tumble. The gross for 160 sold (compared to 192 last year) was A$6,860,500, down 52%, while the average dropped 42.3% to A$42,878 and the median dipped 23.3% to A$23,000.

Aquis/Blue Sky was the day's leading buyer with 12 bought, their haul also including the stakes-placed mare Bound To Blush (Aus) (Strategic {Aus}), in foal to Artie Schiller, for A$200,000. Lot 234 is out of a half-sister to G1 Goodwood H. winner Keeper (Aus) (Danehill).

Aquis's Director of Sales, Jonathan Crowley, said the team was “very happy with the day.”

“To get 12 lovely mares, including the very well-bred mare in Our Girl Raquie, we're delighted with what we're taking home,” Crowley said. “It was a strong day but you have to give the money for the mares that you want and we were most pleased with what we got.”

Of Our Girl Raquie, Crowley added, “Mares with pedigrees like hers don't come around too often and she's a very good-looking type as well. There's plenty of places we can send her now so we'll go home and think about it and pick a nice stallion for her.”

Godolphin was one of 34 vendors to enjoy a 100% clearance rate, with their 24 offerings headed by the A$185,000 Fratianne (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) (lot 317), a winning 7-year-old mare from the family of G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) who was sold to Widden Stud in foal to Shooting To Win (Aus).

Godolphin's John Sunderland said, “We're delighted with the support we've got from the buyers, there's a great buying bench here and it's been a great return for us. It's very rewarding for everyone to see such nice mares go to good homes and get good money for them. I really want to thank and congratulate Inglis for bringing such a fantastic, broad and strong buying bench together.”

Wednesday's final session of the Broodmare and Weanling Sale, and the last-ever sale day at the company's Newmarket complex, will begin at 10 a.m. and feature 206 broodmares.