New Years Greetings from the Team Welcome to 2007 and the first edition of our new monthly newsletter, I hope to give you an insight into what happens behind the scenes at Aquanita Racing. The yearling sales have already started with the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast. This event will be quickly followed by sales in New Zealand, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and the traditional Sydney Easter Sale. Our team of experts will be assessing thousands of horses during this time trying to unearth the next potential star for you. If you are interested in buying a horse or purchasing a share, please contact National Racing Manager Damian Slocum on (03) 9573 3700 to register your interest. The first months of the year are filled with great racing with major Carnivals flowing into each other. I congratulate Racing Victoria for putting together the Melbourne Festival of Racing. Of course attention should also given to the many country clubs and those running picnic race meetings during the summer. This is a great way to catch up with family and friends while still enjoying great racing. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the staff to wish everyone involved with Aquanita all the very best for 2007, we look forward to a great year of racing and we hope that you come along and enjoy the ride. Sam Doran Communications Manager Every race day is full of stories, most involve hard luck and photo finishes but Melbourne Cup Day 2006 proved that sometimes dreams do come true. Aquanita trainer Dan O'Sullivan backed his instincts and chose to race the promising Creek Side on Melbourne Cup day even after he had failed at his previous start. Dan's judgment was proved correct when Creek Side with Noel Callow hard riding toughed out a famous victory on Australia's biggest race day. The Flemington member's enclosure erupted as the owners of Creek Side saw their horse's number go up in the winner's frame. Syndicate manager Adam Palmer shook his head in disbelief as if he had just seen a miracle. Picked out by the Aquanita team and raced by the boys from the Strathmore Football Club, Creek Side was an $11,000 purchase; he has now won over $140,000 for connections, with more to come. The joy of winning a race on Melbourne Cup Day could be best described as priceless. Lifetime Achievement Award In an industry full of history and tradition one that stands out at Aquanita is the service of strapper Brian Baldwin In a career that has spanned 45 years, the last 16 with Tony Vasil, Brian has had the pleasure of being involved with some very special horses including multiple Group One winner Elvstroem- his favorite horse- and the latest stable rising stars Haradasun and Lucky Secret. On the 1st of December Brian was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Racing Victoria. Brian was recognized for his Outstanding Service to the Thoroughbred Racing Industry. All at Aquanita wish to congratulate Brian on the receiving this award. Magic Millions - Gold Coast By the time Magic Millions race day 2007 had rolled around it had already been a long week for Aquanita's trainer Liam Birchley. The week s hustle bustle and hype is not something that sits comfortably for the hard working Brisbane boy. He'd much prefer being at home working his team of promising horses. Saturday race day provided a wonderful highlight for Liam and his staff when Helter Skelter won the $220,000 RM Williams Magic Millions Sprint. Two of the owners are Gold Coast identities; Adrian Fox a DJ on radio station Gold FM while Bill Cross is a local legend owning a string of popular nightclubs. Liam in his usual understated way thought the boys would "probably celebrate well into the night". While Helter Skelter had been struggling for form before the Magic Millions, Liam had earmarked this race several months earlier and like a true horseman he had the horse peaking at the right time. After jumping away quickly Helter Skelter was never headed and romped home to record the 10th win of his career from 46 starts. Liam picked Helter Skelter out from the 2002 Magic Millions sale and as a $17,000 purchase with career earnings of $495,525 he has more than paid his way. The six-year-old entire will continue to race on with a view to picking up a race over the Brisbane Winter Carnival to enhance his stud prospects. In a very short space of time the Gold Coast Magic Millions has quickly turned into a highlight on the racing calendar. The race day has grown to where a move from the current site is tipped. The talk is that an all-purpose racetrack will be built to accommodate one of the fastest developing regions in the country.	Highlights • New Year Message • Magic Millions Weekend • Lifetime Achievement Award • December Winners "Aquanita where horses and owners come first." December Winners • Lucky Secret - Moonee Valley 01/12/06 & Caulfield 13/12/06 • Special Scene - Sandown 06/12/06 & 16/12/06 • Beat The Traffic - Ballarat 07/12/06 & 17/12/06 • Cool Trent -Caulfield 9/12/06 • Junk In The Trunk - Gold Coast 16/12/06 • Devil Inside - Gold Coast 16/12/06 • Light Vision - Ballarat 17/12/06 • National Forest - Caloundra 17/12/06 • Petro Wells - Wangaratta 19/12/06 • Hofmeister - Werribee 20/12/06 • Belle of the Bay - Yarra Glen 22/12/06 • Lionleigh Lass - Gold Coast 23/12/06 • Blue Tears - Moe 26/12/06 • Charmana Star - Caloundra 26/12/06 • Grand Commander - Mornington 27/12/06 • Upilo - Doomben 30/12/06 • Ready For Luck - Werribee 31/12/06
January 2007, Issue 1 | Caulfield Office Phone (03) 9573 3700 Fax (03) 9573 3799