Tainted Smerdon winners amassed more than $3 million in prizemoney

ROBERT Smerdon could have amassed more than $3 million in prizemoney with doped winners as the RAD Board considers imposing a $100,000 fine on the rogue trainer.

Brad McLean on Black And Bent (blue cap) looks to run down Adam Trinder on Desert Master (grey horse) on his way to winning the Galleywood Hurdle on day 2 of the Warrnambool Carnival

ROBERT Smerdon could have amassed more than $3 million in prizemoney with doped winners as the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board considers imposing a $100,000 fine on the rogue trainer.

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Disqualified for life as the Aquanita doping ring mastermind, Smerdon has been convicted of being party to 115 counts relating to race-day treatment using sodium bicarbonate “top-ups”.

Of the 115 counts, the Herald Sun has identified 54 occasions where winning horses appear to have been treated by float driver Greg Nelligan on Smerdon’s orders.

Nelligan and his wife Denise also have been disqualified for life.

Five others — trainers Stuart Webb (four years), Tony Vasil (three years), Trent Pennuto (two years), Liam Birchley (one year) and stablehand Danny Garland (one year) — have also been sidelined, subject to possible appeal.

Smerdon’s lawyer Tim McHenry described Racing Victoria’s push for a fine as “completely premature”.

He argued the demand for the fine — and the prospect of civil court action against Smerdon — could have a “potentially disastrous financial outcome” for the veteran trainer.

Text messages exchanges between Nelligan and Smerdon reveal hundreds of races were targeted by the pair and, more broadly, the so-called “circle of trust”.

Suspect victories have been uncovered in Group 1 level contests at Flemington and Rosehill to country maidens.

In total, successful Smerdon runners suspected of being illegally treated between June 2010 and June 2016 earned $3,460,877.

Successful Robert Smerdon runners suspected of being illegally treated between June 2010 and June 2016 earned $3,460,877.

This figure does not include stakemoney for minor placings and lower finishes.

McHenry last week claimed Smerdon owns no property and, at 63, is not yet able to access superannuation funds.

Trainers generally earn 10 per cent of the winner’s purse.

Birchley said under the Aquanita Racing model trainers were paid a weekly wage and shared 50 per cent of the profits with the company.

The now defunct Aquanita Racing owned 49 per cent of Smerdon Training Services — and Smerdon sat on the Aquanita board.

RAD Board chairman Judge John Bowman described the Aquanita doping scheme as the darkest and longest chapter in Australian racing.

The board is yet to reach a position on the possibility of disqualifying horses thought to have been doped.

Mosheen (Vinery Stakes and Australian Guineas), Black And Bent (Galleywood and Houlahan Hurdles) and Politeness (Myer Classic) are among top-liners whose successes might have due to performance-enhancing substances.

Other possibly tainted wins involved Shewan (Herbert Power Stakes) and Fontein Ruby (Caulfield Classic).

$121,000: Shewan takes out the Herbert Power Stakes in 2010. Picture: Andrew Tauber

THE WINNERS UNDER SUSPICION

Winning horses suspected on being treated, based on Aquanita inquiry texts. All trained by Robert Smerdon unless otherwise stated. (57 winners, total prizemoney $3,694,152.54/54 Smerdon winners, total prizemoney $3,460,877).

THE WINNERS

2010 (4)

ONLY HE KNOWS — June 26, Flemington. Prizemoney: $45,750

LAST CASH (VASIL) — August 22, Cranbourne. Prizemoney: $8775

CARNEGIE DAN — August 22, Cranbourne. Prizemoney: $8775

THE WINGMAN — December 15, Caulfield. Prizemoney: $18,363

2011 (11)

LA FANTASTIQUE — February 17, Launceston (Tasmanian Oaks). Prizemoney: $90,000

NO MEANS GO — March 25, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $34,613

ASSERTION — April 1, Mornington. Prizemoney: $6825

ECLAIR FLYER — April 2, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $42,700

PADDY O’REILLY — April 23, Caulfield (Easter Cup). Prizemoney: $75,750

BLACK AND BENT — August 14, Sandown (Houlahan Hurdle). Prizemoney: $62,563

DESTINY’S KISS — October 7, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $18,363

SHEWAN — October 8, Caulfield (Herbert Power Stakes). Prizemoney: $121,000

EMMALENE (BIRCHLEY) — November 3, Flemington. Prizemoney: $91,500

OLYMPIC WIN — November 12, Sandown (Sandown Cup). Prizemoney: $76,250

APPREHEND — December 9, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $18,363

$63,563: Brad McLean and Black And Bent (blue silks) attempt to run down Adam Trinder and Desert Master on their way to winning the 2012 Galleywood Hurdle.

2012 (11)

SIDE SPLITTER — January 13, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $18,363

ROLLERBALL — January 27, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $31,363

CHARGED AND READY (VASIL) — February 23, Werribee. Prizemoney: $8775

MOSHEEN — March 3, Flemington. (Australian Guineas). Prizemoney: $455,000

MOSHEEN — April 7, Rosehill (Vinery Stakes). Prizemoney: $245,000

BLACK AND BENT — May 2, Warrnambool (Galleywood Hurdle). Prizemoney: $63,563

BRUNGLE CRY — July 15, Sandown (Grand National Hurdle). Prizemoney: $127,563

RIVIERE — August 29, Sandown. Prizemoney: $21,000

MOSHEEN — October 6, Flemington (Blazer Stakes). Prizemoney: $133,500

KIMURASUN (VASIL) — October 14, Cranbourne. Prizemoney: $12,000

CONFERRE — November 16, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $21,000

$133,500: The Robert Smerdon-trained Mosheen wins the 2012 Blazer Stakes.

2013 (5)

BLACK AND BENT — May 22, Sandown. Prizemoney: $61,750

KIRRIBILLI GOLD — May 22, Sandown. Prizemoney: $62,250

COOLDINI — May 22, Sandown. Prizemoney: $21,000

ARCH FIRE — August 28, Sandown. Prizemoney: $21,450

WESTSOUTHWEST — August 28, Sandown (Australian Hurdle). Prizemoney: $63,250

2014 (17)

RICHIE’S VIBE (VASIL) — January 24, Moonee Valley (Australia Stakes). Prizemoney: $133,000

CRAFTY — July 12, Flemington. Prizemoney: $73,000

CASA MASTER — August 2, Sale. Prizemoney: $10,500

BROUHAHA — September 14, Cranbourne. Prizemoney: $10,500

UNGRATEFUL ELLEN — September 19, Ararat. Prizemoney: $10,500

BARCODE — September 19, Ararat. Prizemoney: $10,500

SPENCER STREET — September 23, Kyneton. Prizemoney: $9000

FONTEIN RUBY — October 18, Caulfield (Caulfield Classic). Prizemoney: $450,000

FONTITON — October 25, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $152,000

LUMOSTY — October 25, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $122,500

SHUT THE FRONTDOOR — November 10, Seymour. Prizemoney: $9000

DARING — November 30, Kyneton. Prizemoney: $10,500

FORKATESAKE — November 30, Kyneton. Prizemoney: $10,500

RELDAS — December 19, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $21,000

EVERY FAITH — December 27, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $48,000

GOLDEN APOLLO — December 31, Echuca. Prizemoney: $10,500

BARCODE — December 31, Echuca. Prizemoney: $10,500

$450,000: Fontein Ruby wins the Caulfield Classic. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

2015 (6)

THE BOWLER — March 21, Bendigo. Prizemoney: $30,250

ABILITY — August 13, Sale. Prizemoney: $12,650

LITEN PRINSESSA — September 10, Mornington. Prizemoney: $16,500

POLITENESS — October 31, Flemington (Myer Classic). Prizemoney: $302,500

BERISHA — November 5, Flemington. Prizemoney: $61,500

CRIMSON CAPE — November 26, Sale. Prizemoney: $12,650

2016 (3)

CHEERS THANKSALOT — March 21, Wodonga. Prizemoney: $11,000

LIVERY — May 3, Warrnambool. Prizemoney: $15,280

CLEMENCY — June 18, Moonee Valley. Prizemoney: $44,000