The son of Encosta De Lago has almost single-handedly re-invigorated the Tasmanian breeding industry in his seven seasons at Armidale Stud, producing the star filly Mystic Journey, who was able to win both the G1 Australian Guineas and the inaugural All-Star Mile in 2019.
He has produced five stakes winners in total, with Mystic Journey joined by Deroche, Bold Star, Mystical Pursuit and Pateena Arena. Among his 52 winners to date are the champion 2-year-olds in Tasmania the past three seasons.
Aquis CEO Tony Williams said Needs Further was a perfect fit for Aquis' Victorian operation, where he will stand alongside Lean Mean Machine, who debuted at the Seymour property last season.
Needs Further | Standing at Aquis Farm in 2020
"I couldn't be more delighted to have a son of Encosta De Lago like Needs Further coming to Victoria. To be working with Armidale Stud, who have had generations in the business and are so well-respected, is a feather in the cap for Aquis," Williams told TDN AusNZ.
"The job Needs Further has done in Tasmania is quite remarkable and to have a filly like Mystic Journey to be a Classic winning 3-year-old and win the inaugural All-Star Mile is a great achievement for a young stallion.
"The job Needs Further has done in Tasmania is quite remarkable." - Tony Williams
"His statistics are exceptional. Armidale have done a great job with him in Tassie and I think it’s a great opportunity for him to relocate to Victoria."
Off the back of Mystic Journey's success, Needs Further served a book of 103 mares last season, but the partners in the horse, including Armidale Stud itself, received interest from interstate and recognised that better opportunities might present themselves on the mainland.
Mystic Journey
"We have had quite a lot of interest from mainland studs for the past 18 months. We’ve had some pressure from within the ownership group to move him. It seems like the obvious thing is to move him to Victoria to get access to better quality mares," Armidale Stud Managing Director, David Whishaw, told TDN AusNZ.
"Aquis first approached us in March 2019, and it got more serious from March onwards this year and we’ve been able to bed something down.
"It seems like the obvious thing is to move him to Victoria to get access to better quality mares." - David Whishaw
"I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for him, He's done an outstanding job with limited books of mares down here. He does deserve a chance at getting a big commercial book of mares. Shifting to Victoria allows him to do that."
Bred by Gooree Stud, Needs Further was trained by Gai Waterhouse and won the G3 ATC Carbine Club S. He is out of Crowned Glory (Danehill {USA}), who was a Group 3 winner and placed in a G1 Golden Slipper S. She also produced the multiple Group 1 winner and now Twin Hills Stud stallion Hallowed Crown, who is by Street Sense (USA).
Needs Further when racing
Encosta connection to resonate in Victoria
Williams said with an exceptional pedigree, it was little wonder Needs Further had made such an impression at stud and he expected that as a son of Encosta De Lago, who built his substantial reputation in Victoria before relocating to the Hunter Valley, he would resonate very strongly with Victorian breeders.
"He's a very good horse. He's got an unbelievably good stallion's pedigree. He throws a substantial foal and yearling and he will be supported well and suit the Victorian market," he said.
"He throws a substantial foal and yearling and he will be supported well and suit the Victorian market." - Tony Williams
"Encosta De Lago made his name in Victoria before going to New South Wales. Encosta is a great influence in Victoria and this horse can certainly complement his sire there.
"He's also out of a Danehill mare who ran second in a Golden Slipper. Danehill has been a breed-shaper. He is exactly the type of stallion that Aquis needs in Victoria and we look forward to doing the partners and shareholders proud. I am really excited about him going there."
Needs Further stays at the same price point he occupied in the 2019 season in Tasmania, with the deal on a season-by-season basis.
David Wishaw and Needs Further
Armidale enters a new era
While his departure is somewhat bittersweet for the Whishaw family, David Whishaw sees the move as making perfect commercial sense.
"He covered more interstate mares last year than he did Tassie mares. I think that was one of the compelling reasons. He is appealing now to the mainland more than the local market," he said.
"He really should suit the Super VOBIS scheme very well. He's a very versatile sire, he's thrown 3-year-old classic horses, he's thrown the horses that look like they will get out over a trip as well as sprinters.
"I think where he will be priced in the market, he should be very appealing and hopefully he can get a strong book of quality."
Alpine Eagle | Standing at Armidale Stud
Whishaw said while Needs Further's departure leaves a bit of a gap in Armidale's roster, it will look to secure more support for their young stallion Alpine Eagle, who has his first runners to the track in 2020/21.
"We’ve got Alpine Eagle coming through the ranks and he's been well received, not only by the local breeders, but the mainland breeders too. His yearlings were sought after at the yearling sales this year too," he said.
"One door closes and another door opens and there is definitely a degree of sadness. We have been very attached to this horse. He's been wonderful from the start and he's really put Tassie breeding and racing back on the map. He has given the local industry some confidence."
