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Robert Smerdon Aquanita's longest serving and most successful trainer today took the stable to its 3000th winner.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The feat was achieved during the first stanza of the three-day Warrnambool Racing Carnival.
Brungle Cry and Kirribilli Gold saluted in separate divisions of the maiden hurdle; the third win coming from Fareer who took out the $100,000 Brierly Steeplechase
In May 1998 at Flemington racecourse, trainers John Sadler and Russell Cameron announced that they had formed a business partnership to be known as Aquanita Racing Australia Pty Ltd. As part of the newly formed enterprise the pair would move into new stables on course at Flemington.
That was 14 years ago, since then the only constant has been the survival of the name Aquanita Racing (Australia) Pty Ltd - an entity that has established itself as a genuine and a major player in the “sport of kings”.
Having achieved the rare distinction of 3,000 winners is a measure to the stables success and durability.
“Few of the Directors would have expected the business to be what it is today when we first came together” founding member and Chairman of Aquanita Peter Howell said.
Trainers have come and gone; a total of nine different trainers have hung their shingle next to Aquanita during the past 14 years. Today three remain, Robert Smerdon and Tony Vasil in Victoria along with Simon Miller in Western Australia. Contemporaries have included John Sadler, Russell Cameron, Dan O'Sullivan, Richard Jolly, Liam Birchley and Heath Conners.
Throughout its lifetime Aquanita with its distinctive blue colours have continued to develop and today are well recognized throughout the country.
Amongst the 3000 winners are 26 Group 1 victories. Elvstroem, Haradasun, Bomber Bill, Toledo and in recent times Lone Rock and Mosheen headline the Aquanita Hall of Fame.
The Aquanita of today is a well-refined management support business. The trainers maintain their independence by owning the majority of the shares in their training businesses.
Aquanita has its own administration and accounting staff and systems to streamline the support they give to trainers. It has its own veterinary practice, horse transport business, spelling property in Victoria and has contracts in place with preferred farriers in all locations it operates from.
Over time it has added state of the art training aids for its trainers to access, larger than standard boxes, above ground and under water treadmills, horse walkers, and the latest equine diagnostic equipment.
The business model has proven resilient. It has helped establish and in several instances re-establish the reputations of its trainers. Above all it has done so with a minimum of fuss or fanfare. That is reserved for its trainers, who remain the heroes of the operation and the people Aquanita wish to service and develop.
