Aquanita Racing responds after doping charges were laid against trainers and staff

THE management company now embroiled in one of Australia’s largest integrity scandals insists it takes Racing Victoria’s rules and protocols “very seriously”.

AQUANITA Racing, the management company now embroiled in one of Australia’s largest integrity scandals, insists it takes Racing Victoria’s rules and protocols “very seriously”.

In a letter sent to owners, Aquanita Racing said its directors are yet to review the massive 271 charges laid against trainers Robert Smerdon and Stuart Webb and six other people.

The majority of the charges relate to the alleged illegal use of alkalising agents on horses from 2010-17.

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All eight people charged have links, past or present, to Aquanita Racing or used the company’s services or stables.

If successfully prosecuted, some of the accused face the prospect of being warned off all Australian courses.

Aquanita said its directors, including board chairman Peter Howell and Melbourne Racing Club chairman Mike Symons, would need time to “understand the implication to our staff and the owners who support those two stables.”

Charges have been laid against trainer Robert Smerdon. Picture: Ian Currie

“It will take a few days to digest and understand the implications of the charges, but be assured our prime responsbility is to your horses and the management and care of their current training programs,” it said.

“The Aquanita board will not be comment publicly on the charges at this point, but we will keep you fully informed on any relevant developments as they unfold and impact on the training of your horses.

“The Aquanita board takes the matters of compliance with RVL rules and protocols very seriously for all its business and related entities.

“We look forward to working with the various parties to bring this matter to a speedy resolution.”

Aquanita Racing provides managerial services to a select group of trainers, including Smerdon and Webb.

It also employs or employed Greg Nelligan, his wife Denise Nelligan and stablehand Danny Garland, who also face multiple charges stemming from the complex doping investigation.

The company has previously been associated with Group 1-winning trainers Tony Vasil and Liam Birchley, who have also been charged.

Disqualified Mornington trainer Trent Pennuto used to work for Vasil.

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The inquiry was triggered by the alleged raceday treatment of the Smerdon-trained Lovani at Flemington on October 7 and quickly widened to other Aquanita Racing trainers.

Smerdon is been charged with being “a party to the administration of alkalising agents and/or medications to a horse or horses on a race day” on 115 occasions between June 2010 and October 2017.

Webb (three charges), Vasil (seven charges), Birchley (three charges) and Pennuto (four charges) were all embroiled in the investigation as the probe developed.

The trainers have been charged with breaching AR 175(a), which states stewards can penalise, “any person who, in their opinion, has been guilty of any dishonest, corrupt or fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing”.

They were also charged with being a party to the administration of alkalising agents over various periods.

Melbourne Racing Club chairman Mike Symons is a director of Aquanita. Picture: Michael Klein

Registered stablehand Greg Nelligan has been charged with 123 counts.

RV also laid alternative charges against him of having “a syringe, needle, nasogastric tube or other instrument that could be used” in his possession in a vehicle used to transport a horse to a race meeting after catching him with a “modified syringe” on Turnbull Stakes day.

Nelligan has also alternatively been charged with attempting or administering to administer sodium bicarbonate to Lovani at 3.08pm, less than three hours before her scheduled race at Flemington.

Nelligan has also been charged with laying (backing to lose) three horses under the care of a trainer for whom he worked, administering Vicks to the nose of a horse at Bendigo in 2012 and failing to comply with a stewards’ directive to hand over his mobile phone.

Denise Nelligan faces 13 counts, while Garland will answer to two.

The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will hear the cases on dates to be fixed.