Kacy takes the reins
Aquis staff member joins training ranks with Mullaghmore
AS Aquis Farm prepares for a three-pronged attack on Sydney’s Golden Slipper, the racing entity’s longest-serving employee Kacy Fogden is preparing for a milestone of her own at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Fogden has been with Aquis since they set up their Queensland thoroughbred operation at Canungra in the Gold Coast Hinterland and is the farm’s racing manager.
She has also recently taken out a trainer’s licence and in the shape of Mullaghmore (Eagle Farm, Race 2) will have her first runner on Saturday.
“It’s exciting but also obviously a little bit scary and nervous at the same time,” Fogden said.
“It’s been in the pipeline for a while but this horse (who was only sold on Tuesday) has just turned it around a bit quicker.
“(Former trainer) Steve O’Dea has got him in great form and any credit for what he does in this race should go to him.”
Fogden said Aquis would continue to support the wide number of trainers it already had, but for “any special cases” she would train for clients, though “it won’t be too many.”
Fogden said it had been remarkable to watch the transformation of Aquis into the giant it was today.
“It is just incredible the way it has progressed,” she said. “I never dreamt it would have been this big when I started six years ago.”
Aquis Farm chief executive Shane McGrath said it was an exciting new venture for Fogden, as the stud prepares for what it hoped would be a monster Golden Slipper payday in Sydney.
Aquis has three runners in Saturday’s Slipper, plus third emergency Bellevue Hill.
“To have four runners in a race of this type is a remarkable achievement and something we are very proud of,” McGrath said.
He tipped Breeders Plate winner Dubious to improve off his Todman run, while Blue Diamond placegetter Free Of Debt has given trainer Chris Bieg the indication he will handle the probable soft conditions.
The third Aquis runner is Vincere Volare and McGrath said trainer Tony Gollan was confident the filly would handle the wet conditions.
Aquis has Fundamentalist a leading hope in the Doncaster, Brave Smash running in Dubai’s Al Quoz Sprint and Gold Coast mare Houtzen racing at Royal Ascot for the King’s Stand Stakes in June.