A passion for racing and breeding has led this likable Queenslander to a dream job with Aquis, but best not let him near the Magic Silver White shampoo!
This week we find out more about Jonathan Davies, the Director of Sales for Aquis Farm.
1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
I was born in Brisbane and grew up in areas around the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
My Dad was and still is an avid racegoer, he owned a few here and there but he has always been an absolute tragic for the punt! So, my love of racing and breeding stemmed from there. One day I spoke to my parents about wanting to pursue something in the thoroughbred industry and luckily, I had their full support, so I dropped out of university and started my first industry job with Pat Duff.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Jonathan Davies look like?
No one day is the same which is what I love about my job at Aquis Farm. My favourite part of the year is the lead up to the breeding season and the season itself; I really enjoy helping clients with their mating plans and treat each one like it’s my own.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
Subzero for his deeds on and off the track with his mate Graham Salisbury, he was a very special horse.
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
I have been very lucky and have had some amazing days both at the races and sales, but two off the top of my head would be the day my fiancé; Sarah Wolski and I sold a mare called Condesaar (The dam of Yankee Rose) for $260,000 after purchasing her the year before for $6,000, we owned her with some great friends.
The second one came just last month; we purchased a dry mare called Electra for $1,250 on the September Inglis Digital sale thinking her daughter Electric Girl was good enough to secure black type. She won the Group 2 Hot Danish stakes in November. By that time Electra was safely in foal to Dubious on our life time breeding right and we sold her on Magic Millions Online for $85,000. I then made a great day even more memorable by (finally) proposing to Sarah…. She said yes!
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
It was Longmire, but at the moment we are re-watching You and I’m looking forward to the last series of Afterlife.
6/ Now that travel has re-opened where is the first place you will go?
With sons Michael (2) and Cooper (2 months) we don’t have any plans to travel overseas for a while. Just looking forward to an Easter holiday on Fraser this year with some friends.
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
Not many I don’t eat to be honest. Gemelli on the coast as tipped to me by Phil Marshall many years ago is a favourite though along with the Miami Marketta, food trucks with cold beer, nice cocktails and live music.
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
I don’t have a bucket list per se, most things I want to do and or/ achieve probably seem a bit farfetched at the moment but I’ll chip away.
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
Treasure the good times and don’t sweat the small stuff.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
I took a Show A Heart colt to the MM Qtis sale in 2013, he had 4 white stockings and I left the purple shampoo on too long…. He became quite the attraction for a day or two before it thankfully faded!
