New owners Aquis Farm made a quick return on their $300,000 outlay to buy mare Cradle Me when she won the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton reminded Eagle Farm punters of why he’s rated one of the best riders in the world when he got an inside run on Cradle Me ($6.50) to beat Artistry ($16) by a length with a head to Jessy Belle ($26) in third.
The favourite Gishoni was easy in the ring blowing from $1.75 to $1.95 and lost her chance when slow to begin, eventually finishing fifth.
Aquis Farm has made a decision to be a major player in the Australian market, buying a property at Canungra, in the Gold Coast hinterland, as a racing, breeding and spelling complex.
They’ve been active at the yearling and broodmare sales in the past year and bought Cradle Me, a seven-year-old Easy Rocking mare, at the National Magic Millions Sale last week.
Aquis decided to leave the mare with trainer David Pfieffer, who has always had a big opinion of her.
“She cost her original owners $28,000 at a breeze up sale and she won 10 races and $563,000 for them,” he said.
“They were thrilled to get $300,000 for her at the sales and now Aquis have picked up nearly half that for Cradle Me’s win today.”
“She isn’t nominated for the (Group One) Tatts Tiara in a fortnight, but we might have to see about a late nomination. I will speak with Aquis tonight to see what they want to do.”
Purton said Cradle Me travelled well and hit the line hard once the opening came on the inside.
“She was always going to be hard to beat the way she travelled and it was just a matter of getting some luck,” Purton said.
Jockey James McDonald thought it would be unwise to write off Ghisoni.
“She lost it at the start when she was slow to go and then she was caught deep the whole way,” he said.
