Riding Singular Sensation under contract for the Fungs..
In a bid to streamline the process of booking jockeys for their horses across Australia, Aquis Farm has announced that Group 1-winning jockey Michael Walker has become their retained rider.Aquis chief executive Shane McGrath confirmed the news on Tuesday, claiming the arrangement merely firms up the relationship Walker has with the majority of the trainers who prepare Aquis-owned horses."Michael is based in Melbourne and all our Melbourne trainers use Michael anyway, from David Hayes, Ciaron Maher to Mick Price, so we were just looking for a jockey we can align with and he was a logical choice being a Group 1 jockey," McGrath said."We've had a good relationship so far with him."McGrath said the deal with Walker meant there was more certainty about who will ride Aquis horses."His feedback will be most important and it means our trainers now know who to go to. He'll be the first port of call for our trainers."It's hard with the spread of our racehorses even for the trainers. It streamlines the process and it's a win-win for both of us and I know Michael is really excited to come on board."McGrath said the deal did not mean Walker would ride exclusively for the Aquis group, which is owned by the Hong Kong-based Fung family."He has his agent still on board and he is still able to take outside rides," McGrath explained. "It will be a practical relationship too. We won't tie him to an outsider with little chance if he can ride a fancied horse in a good race for example.
