Aquis Farm has gone some way to replenishing the stallion ranks of the Queensland stud with the acquisition of eye-catching Australian-bred, Hong Kong group 1-winning sprinter Stronger.
The Hong Kong-owned Aquis has sold significant interests in five stallions in recent weeks Pierata, Brave Smash, Dubious, Santos, and Divine Prophet—with the quintet all relocating to other stud farms in Victoria, NSW, and New Zealand.
However, Aquis has reinvested in the Douglas Whyte-trained 2022 Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) winner Stronger, a group 3-winning juvenile in Queensland, to fill one of the vacant boxes at Canungra.
The son of Not A Single Doubt will stand at a fee of AUS$13,750 (inc. GST) in his maiden season at stud.
Aquis Stallions director of sales Jonathan Davies believes Stronger’s profile makes him an ideal stallion prospect, particularly for Queensland.
“He is extremely well bred, he’s extremely good looking, he was a million-dollar yearling and he was bought by a great judge in James Harron, he was incredibly fast but he was also very tough and sound,” Davies told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“He has got an incredible nature about him, that’s one of the things most talked about with people who have dealt with the horse, which is very important for a stallion as their temperament definitely does come through in their stock.
Stronger (left) staves off Sky Field to win the 2022 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse
“They’re all great qualities to pass on to his stock in the future.”
Davies also acknowledged Stronger’s sire line as one that was making a big impact on Australian breeding.
“He is only the third son of Not A Single Doubt to win at group 1 level joining Extreme Choice and Farnan and we all know what Extreme Choice is doing and Farnan is an incredibly promising stallion in his own right as well,” he said.
“To have a horse who can stand up alongside those two is pretty exciting for us.”
A winner in November of his 2-year-old year, Stronger raced seven times as a juvenile, culminating in his victory in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic (G3) at the Gold Coast before the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt was sold to Hong Kong.
He is out of the winning mare Star Pupil (Starcraft), herself a sister to dual stakes winner Ain’Tnofallenstar and a half sister to stakes winners Bachman and Stepitup.
Agent George Moore purchased Stronger as a tried horse from the James Harron colts partnership three years ago on behalf of Hong Kong-based client Cheung Hon Kit who retains a significant interest in the stallion and who will be sending mares to the rising 7-year-old.
The stud deal was brokered by David Chester of Magic Millions.
“With Aquis Stallions’ astute acquisition of a rare Australian 2-year-old winning son of Not A Single Doubt and a subsequent Hong Kong group 1 winner, we have no doubt that he has all the makings of a top progressive stallion in Australia,” Moore said.
“He has the earmarks of a top stallion being a AUS$1.05 million yearling, correct in conformation, kind in character, and explosive in his race finishes.”
Chester also has immense belief in Stronger’s stallion credentials.
“You just love a horse that can unleash explosive sectionals and Stronger possessed this important quality. He will be an important addition to the Queensland industry and looks ideal for the QTIS bonus scheme,” Chester said.
