Calls for compo over Aquanita doping bans

DISGRUNTLED owners and trainers are likely to chase prizemoney compensation as the fallout continues from the Aquanita doping case.

Prominent horse trainer Robert Smerdon yesterday was banned for life, as were two stablehands, over a doping scandal that involved more than 100 races over several years.

Two other trainers, Stuart Webb and Tony Vasil, were given suspensions of three and four years, while three others received lighter punishments.

A Racing Victoria investigation found Smerdon and stablehand Greg Nelligan to be the masterminds of the program, and all of those involved were linked to the Aquanita Racing stable.

The eight were convicted by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board of 271 breaches of race-day rules from 2010 to last year. Most of the offences related to dosing horses with a banned mixture of sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, which helps reduce the buildup of lactic acid and improves performance.

Millions of dollars could be in dispute as connections of horses beaten in races, some at Group 1 level, lobby to have Aquanita-trained runners disqualified. In what looms as a logistic nightmare, several owners have signalled they will push for horses proved or suspected to have been doped to be demoted.

Text messages suggest some of Australia’s most lucrative races might have been won by illegally treated Aquanita horses.

Some of the big races won by Robert Smerdon runners under question include: MOSHEEN in the 2012 Group 1 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill. POLITENESS in the Group 1 Myer Classic at Flemington on Derby Day, 2015. BLACK AND BENT in the 2011 Grand National Hurdle at Sandown. LA FANTASTIQUE in the Listed 2011 Tasmanian Oaks at Launceston.

The issue of disqualifying horses trained by Smerdon, Vasil, Liam Birchley and Webb was raised again yesterday.

Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board chairman Judge John Bowman said it “was an area of some difficulty”.

But he left the door open for further investigation into exactly which races were affected, and how those issues may be resolved.

“There are quite a lot of unanswered questions,” he said.

Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson confirmed horses could be disqualified under the relevant rules — if charges were proved.

“It is a matter for the RAD Board and they will take submissions, no doubt,” he said.

“I should imagine not least for the fact there are 28 days for parties to appeal.”