| From The Horses Mouth |
All involved with Aquanita wish to extend their congratulations to Robert Smerdon on reaching the outstanding milestone of 600 wins since joining the team in August of 1999. Win number 600 was in the LV Lachal Hurdle at Sandown when his talented jumper Some Are Bent saluted. That milestone was quickly passed as win 601 was registered when Rum Corps gave Smerdon a running double. Robert is having another great year winning several group and listed races, although the highlight of the season could be the form of hurdler Some Are Bent who is taking all before him. Happy Racing The Aquanita Team |
| Staff Profile |
 •Employee Profile: Peter Armstrong •Position: Foreman for Robert Smerdon •Nickname: Grumpy Old Man •How long have you worked at Aquanita: Longer than most •Your best moment in racing: Training my horse to two city wins, he also had six straight wins and held three track records. •Favorite TV Show: Home And Away, Sex In The City, Dancing With The Stars •Favorite Movie: Beaches, Dirty Dancing •Favorite Food & Drink: Seafood and Champagne •Favorite Aquanita Horse: City Of The Czars •What do you do on days off? Ballroom Dancing •Describe yourself: Busy and hardworking •What will St Peter say to you when you get to the pearly gates? Wrong place old man |
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| Bent Straightens Out Rivals |
The jumps combination of Aquanita trainer Robert Smerdon, jockey Brad McLean and horse Some Are Bent are proving a top trio for jumping team of the year. All three sit on top of their respective categories in the JJ Houlahan jumps championships. The win was the third feature win of the season following victories in the Galleywood Hurdle during the Warrnambool Carnival, the JJ Houlahan Hurdle at Moonee Valley, with the latest, another faultless display in the LV Lachal Hurdle at Sandown. Some Are Bent has taken on his customary front running freewheeling role and in each jumps race this season and he has not been headed. The horse is starting to put together an impressive record having won eight of thirty-eight starts and over $400K in prize money. The five-year-old son of Distorted Humour x Summer Gambit is riding a wave of success along with the recent renaissance in jumps racing. The sport has again become highly popular with the growing success of jumps carnivals at Oakbank in South Australia and Warrnambool in the first week of May. The formation of a feature race series in South Australia and Victoria and increases in prize money has made the sport attractive not just to owners but also to trainers and jockeys. Some Are Bent is currently undefeated at his last six races over the obstacles and with careful planning he may be one day in reach of the record of eleven consecutive jumps victories. |
| The Secrets Out |
Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil is putting together an impressive team for the Melbourne Spring with the emergence of sprinter Lucky Secret. The 3Yo son of Rubiton may not have the rock star looks of stable mate Haradasun but he does possess brilliant speed. Unbeaten from five starts Lucky Secret looks set to take the big leap from Saturday class to Group Racing. Trainer Vasil describes Lucky Secret as being "A high class horse, he obviously likes the soft and is pretty bombproof - he puts himself forward and keeps out of trouble. " Jockey Danny Brereton who has ridden the horse in four of his five wins commented, "He is the best sprinter I've ever ridden." High praise. Vasil will now look to the early new season feature races with Lucky Secret. The most likely option for the horse will be the Sir John Monash, a listed weight for age race at Caulfield on July 21, a venue where he has posted two of his five wins. By following the path of the early listed and group races Lucky Secret is following in the foot steps of another Tony Vasil trained sprinter in Super Elegant who won the Sir John Monash twice. Super Elegant had a stellar career when prepared by Vasil; he achieved the rare double of winning the Goodwood Hcp and Doomben 10 000 in consecutive weeks. Vasil is keen to play down the ability of his new rising star but like most good things the secrets out. |
• Rum Corps a recent acquisition to the Smerdon stable is providing much amusement for the staff at Caulfield. Seems the horse has a quirk of stretching all four legs and yawning before being saddled for morning track work. • Racing will return to Flemington on Saturday the 8th of September. The track has been closed since the Spring Carnival but will reopen with the running of the Group 2 Maykbe Diva Stakes. • Aquanita Racing does have an open house policy. If you want to visit your horse feel free to contact the stables and organize a time. • Its Apparent must be enjoying the Brisbane winter. The horse was transferred from Tony Vasil to Liam Birchley, and having his first run in the Sunshine State won first up for his new trainer. With his flaxen mane and tail he earned the nickname "Capper" while at Caulfield. |
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Highlights • From The Horses Mouth • May Winners • Some Are Bent • Lucky Secret • Around the Tracks
May Winners • Benson Warrnambool - 02/05/07 • Some Are Bent Warrnambool - 02/05/07 • Vietnam Gold Coast - 05/05/07 • He's Latin Echuca - 06/05/07 • Dream Task Bendigo - 10/05/07 • Rum Corps Caulfield - 12/05/07 • Some Are Bent Sandown -19/05/07 • Terrace Ballarat - 23/05/07 • Doubly Sure Cranbourne - 24/05/07 • Lucky Secret Moonee Valley 26/05/07 • Hula Rock Mildura - 27/05/07 • Miss Kalymnos Caloundra - 27/05/07 Thanks to Racing & Sports and Slickpix for use of images in the Aquanita Form guide Slickpix TVN Authorised Racing Photographer Contact: Ross Holburt (03) 9354 5754 www.slickpix.com.au Racing and Sports Thoroughbred racing, breeding, form guides and sporting news. Contact: Gary Crispe (02) 6288 4080 www.racingandsports.com.au (03) 9573 3744 or via e-mail sam@aquanita.com.au E-Mail: sam@aquanita.com.au Web Site: www.aquanita.com.au |