Aquis Farm's decision to buy into Domesday colt Extra Brut earlier this week paid immediate dividends when the 3YO won today's Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.
Extra Brut - image Grant Courtney
In doing so he led in a First 4 of Inglis graduates in the Derby as Extra Brut beat Stars of Carrum, Chapada and Sikorsky.
Aquis boss Tony Fung, who is based in Hong Kong, and his son Justin were both at Flemington to watch today's race.
Aquis chief executive Shane McGrath described the Derby-winning feeling as "unbelievable''.
"We identified him as always being Domesday's best son, he's Tony Fung's favourite stallion up north,'' McGrath said.
"Having the boss [Tony Fung] here, having Justin [Fung] here, it's what dreams are made of, winning Derbies. It couldn't have gone any better for us.
"Winning a Derby, it's one of the treasured races worldwide. It's such a privilege to be here with the Fung family and everyone involved with the team.''
Bred by Andrew McDonald, Extra Brut was a pinhook success story for Gary Mudgway and Grange Thoroughbreds through Inglis sales.
Mudgway bought Extra Brut as a weanling for $52,000 from Stonehouse Thoroughbreds at the 2016 Great Southern Sale.
He then onsold the colt for $100,000 to Spicer Thoroughbreds at the Classic Yearling Sale seven months later.
The horse was given to Darren Weir to train.
Brad Spicer knew early on the target race for Extra Brut.
"We had a lunch up at Weiry's 12 months ago and I said 'he looks like a Derby horse' but you say that about a lot of these horses who are bred to stay that look like they're stayers,'' Spicer said.
"You just hope to get there, but to do it and to pull it off is just amazing.
"To have Aquis involved, Mr Fung is a big investor in racing so it's really great for them. It will keep them very interested going forward in our industry.''
Meanwhile Aristia will back up in Thursday's Group 1 Kennedy Oaks at Flemington following her strong win in today's key lead-up, the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes.
Aristia was an $80,000 buy for First Light Racing, Ellerton Zahra Racing and Paul Willetts at the 2017 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Vinery Stud.
The Greg Perry-bred filly is now a $3.60 TAB second favourite in Thursday's Oaks.
EXTRA BRUT (Domesday x Dom Perion)
Group 1 win:Victoria Derby
Sale:2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale
Price:$100,000
Vendor:Grange Thoroughbreds
Buyer:Spicer Thoroughbreds
Breeder:Andrew McDonald
Trainer:Darren Weir
Owners:Aquis Farm, BJ Spicer, Free Fallin, CJ Dunn, Binge Mon Racing, Dom Perion Fifteen, KJ Matthews, G Mitchell, BM Spencer, Mrs AJ Grigsby, Four Coronas, SR Cryer, GW Evans, Mrs KL Sparkes, MC Sparkes, G Bubis, CP Simpson, JI Bennett-Hullin, RJ Wilson, JB Grimley & BJ Lee.
