In today's Straight Shorts, stakes winner Prost has been retired to stand at Aquis Farm in Queensland, Schick family releases statement, HKJC partners with XIX Entertainment, Doomben 10,000 field, NZ filly chasing Queensland Oaks berth.
Prost! Aquis says cheers to new stallion
Queensland-based Aquis Farm has retired Group winner Prost to stand at its Canungra stallion operation in 2025.
Raced in partnership by Kia Ora Stud and Tony Fung Investments, the racing division of the Hong Kong-owned Aquis, Breeders’ Plate-placed Snitzel colt Prost won the Canonbury Stakes at two, defeating a field that included Traffic Warden.
In the spring he won the Group 2 Callander-Presnell (registered as the Stan Fox Stakes) at Randwick, his second win in eight starts.
“Prost had unbridled speed, Group-placed as a pre-Christmas two-year-old, he then returned to win a major Golden Slipper lead-up in a record time and had the underlying class to win a Group 2 over the Randwick mile at three,” Aquis director of sales Jonathan Davies said.
“I strongly encourage breeders to inspect Prost, his race record and pedigree are impressive and fully transparent, but it’s the exceptional quality and type that separates Prost from others in his price range.”
A three-quarter brother to Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and Group 3 winner Exhilarates, $650,000 Magic Millions graduate Prost, who was trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, will stand at Aquis Stallions for a fee of $13,200 (inc GST).
Aquis will have a seven-stallion roster this year, with Kobayashi also standing for a fee of $13,200, while Group 1-winning sprinter Jonker will stand for $12,500 with his first crop of two-year-olds to hit the track next season.
Lean Mean Machine ($8,800), Officiating ($8,800), Stronger ($8,800) and Glenfiddich ($4,400) will also stand on the Aquis roster this year.
Schicks ask for privacy after devastating loss
A devastated Schick family of Windsor Park Stud have released a statement acknowledging the outpouring of support after the death of their 1o-year-old son in a tragic accident in New Zealand at the weekend.
Jimmy Schick was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident while hunting with his father Rodney, brother Oli and another friend on a property near Cambridge on Mother’s Day.
Windsor Park studmaster Rodney Schick is in a stable condition in the intensive care ward of Waikato Hospital.
“The Schick family and Windsor Park team express their sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love, support and concern during this most difficult of times,” they said in a statement released via social media.
“In incredibly sad circumstances, the family kindly asks for privacy as they come to terms with the devastating loss of their dearly loved Jimmy.”
The family said they would provide more information on Rodney’s condition when it became available.
“Oli is recovering well with support from the amazing team in the children’s ward,” the statement said.
“We appreciate everything that has been provided and sent to the family - we are well supported and catered for at this stage.
“Thank you for your understanding and support.”
NZTR chair Russell Warwick said: “It’s a tough time for the entire industry with the news of Sunday’s accident; Rodney is a respected director, horseman, and above all, a devoted family man. Our thoughts are with his wife Gina, the Schick family and all those affected by this tragic incident.”
HKJC chases youth audience with XIX Entertainment partnership
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will launch a major initiative to transform itself into a “global sports entertainment brand”.
In a bid to expand its fan base to a younger generation, the HKJC wants to create a holistically integrated racing, equestrian sports and entertainment experience.
With a global mainland audience as its focus, the club has entered into a strategic partnership with XIX Entertainment.
The first collaboration will bring XIX's global pop group, Now United, to Hong Kong.
"I am excited to be collaborating with Hong Kong and the Jockey Club to create something aspirational and positive,” Simon Fuller, the British-born Founder of XIX, said.
“I believe there is an important opportunity to bring inspiring and joyful entertainment to Hong Kong and horse racing.
“My global pop group Now United being here in Hong Kong is the beginning of many more exciting announcements in the coming months, leading to celebrating the year of the horse (in 2026)."
Field decided for Group 1 Doomben 10,000
Doomben 10,000 fancies Overpass and Schwarz have drawn neighbouring barriers for the first Group 1 race of the Queensland winter carnival.
Returning from Perth after an unsuccessful bid to win a third $5 million Quokka, the Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass drew gate 10.
William Reid Stakes winner Schwarz, in his final campaign of racing before retiring to stud, will jump from barrier 11 in the $1.5 million race.
Craig Williams will ride Schwarz, replacing the suspended Blake Shinn.
Overpass holds the call as favourite at $3.80 over Sunshine In Paris ($4.60), one of three acceptors from the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable.
Sunshine In Paris has drawn the deepest of favoured runners in stall 14.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Estriella has been scratched, paving the way for $51 chance Payline to gain a start.
NZ filly She’s A Dealer to use Sydney as potential Oaks springboard
New Zealand co-trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will use a Sydney benchmark race to help strengthen a Queensland Oaks bid for She’s A Dealer.
The Ace High filly will be flown to Australia on Sunday and has been earmarked to run at Randwick on May 24.
“If she can win or run very well, we hope to head up to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks, “Wellwood said.
“That’s two weeks later so it’s the perfect progression for her. Obviously, the Oaks is a bit of a moving target to try and work out whether she’ll get in.”
Race 3 at Te Rapa goes to the @Kingsclere_Nz trained Filly She's A Dealer
— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) April 26, 2025
The 3yo by Ace High (@RichHillStud) broke her maiden last start, and backed it up with another win at the hands of @GeorgeRooke6
Replay: https://t.co/z6Ro5dNGo0#BigSaturday | @TeRapaRacing pic.twitter.com/2CcGWaBEYt
She’s A Dealer was laid low through the spring by a lung infection and, following a disappointing effort when unplaced on debut in March, has impressively won both of her subsequent starts at Ellerslie and Te Rapa.
“She has shown a lot and we’ve always thought she was a highly talented filly, but she had that unfortunate setback,” Wellwood said.
VRC recognition for Melbourne Cup winners
Melbourne Cup-winning trainers and jockeys will be made honorary life members of the Victoria Racing Club.
Household racing names and famous winners such as trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockeys Glen Boss and Craig Williams will be honoured in a membership ceremony during this year’s Melbourne Cup carnival.
“We think it's a special thing and are delighted with the opportunity to be able to do this," VRC chairman Neil Wilson said.
"Trainers and jockeys who have won the Melbourne Cup will be awarded an honorary membership for the rest of their life.
"An honorary member is someone we recognise for their contribution to the club and in this case very much to the club but also to the greatest race in Australia.”
Lifeline for greyhounds in Bundaberg after $4 million track funding
Greyhound racing will return to Bundaberg thanks to a $4 million track upgrade.
Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander announced on Tuesday the track would be converted to a sand base and it comes seven months after a snap closure on safety grounds.
Funding for the project will be provided by Racing Queensland (RQ).
"It will be good news for greyhound racing in the Wide Bay, and it's also good news for our animals with regards to animal welfare," Mander said.
"By having a sand track here and using more modern technology with regards to the design of the track … that will reduce the injury rates."
Dog racing at Bundaberg, about 4-1/2 hours north of Brisbane, was closed in September.
The upgrade had been promised in 2023 after the completion of a $1.4 million upgrade of the club's facilities, however, the work never progressed.
The Crisafulli government’s decision to reopen the track comes as the Queensland greyhound industry is without RQ board representation following the departure of Dale Cartwright in April.
