The
brilliantly fast Godolphin homebred by champion sire Exceed and Excel, former
top class juvenile Furnaces is the latest addition to the 2017 stallion roster
at Aquis Farm.
Aquis Farm CEO Justin Fung said, "Furnaces is a horse that we were very keen to
bring to Queensland in 2017 and with his early precocious speed and superb
pedigree we think he is every chance of repeating the success of a horse like
Written Tycooon when bred to the speedy Queensland mare pool.
Prepared by
John O'Shea, Furnaces was a scintillating six length debut winner at Rosehill
in October over 1100 metres, immediately putting himself into the Golden
Slipper picture with bookmakers installing him as the early favourite.
Second at his next start in the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate (1100m) Furnaces then
confirmed his class at his next run when leading throughout and defeating all
but eventual Golden Slipper winner Vancouver in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes
(1200m).
Furnaces finished a good sixth in the Golden Slipper, beaten just two lengths
behind Vancouver and then backed up to win the Group III ATC Kindergarten
Stakes (1100m) at Randwick as favourite on the opening day of The
Championships.
As a two year old Furnaces defeated stallions now standing at leading Hunter
Valley studs such as Exosphere, Headwater and Sooboog.
Trainer John O'Shea is full of praise for Furnaces, "Furnaces was an
outstanding looking racehorse. He was very athletic with a high cruising speed
and an explosive turn of foot.
"He
was an outstanding two-year-old finishing second in the G2 Todman behind
Vancouver before winning the Kindergarten Stakes in impressive fashion. He has
a nice pedigree and will make an exciting stallion prospect."
Furnaces endured
a disrupted preparation at three and failed to recapture his best form,
although did break the 1100 metre track record at Hawkesbury when winning the
$126,400 Gold Rush Sprint, so there is little doubting his precocity, speed and
class at the top level.
He also demonstrated his brilliance as a four year-old with a gallant Group II
second in the MVRC McEwen Stakes (1000m) behind brilliant mare Wild Rain with
Group I class mares Heatherly and Sheidel behind him.
Former Godolphin stable rider James McDonald was aboard Furnaces in the
majority of his starts and rode him to victory in the Kindergarten Stakes.
"He's a colt that oozes quality," he said.
Furnaces is one
of 129 stakes-winners sired by champion sire Exceed and Excel, who is also
noted as a sire of sires through the deeds of his promising young sons such as
Excelebration, Reward for Effort and Helmet.
On the female side of his family, Furnaces is nothing short of top class being
from stakes-placed Strategic mare Heat of the Fire, who traces back to
influential matriarch Summoned.
This is the family of champion sprinter and sire Zeditave and more current
stars such as dual Group I winner and $1.9 million earner Melito and this
season's outstanding juvenile colt Pariah.
With a pedigree
featuring the blood of luminaries Danehill (USA), Star Kingdom (IRE) and Sir
Tristram (IRE), Furnaces brings the most powerful influences in Australian
racing and breeding to Queensland in a fast, precocious package.
Robyn Wise, General Manager of Aquis Farm said, "I just cannot wait for
Queensland breeders to see this stallion. He is an outstanding physical and has
quality stamped all over him.
"With Godolphin
retaining breeding rights and intending to support the stallion you can rest
assured we will be doing everything in our power to make him a premier stallion
in the future in Queensland. We think his speed and pedigree will make a great
match for Queensland mares."
FURNACES
will stand a fee of $9900 (including GST)
