19/7/2002 edition

Aquanita Expands its Operations

July 5 - Jason Hickson

Aquanita Racing has expanded its operation with the transfer of leading Morphettville trainer Dan O'Sullivan to stables at Caulfield. And former top rider now trainer Richard Jolly has been appointed his replacement in South Australia.

Aquanita Racing will now have five trainers and stables operating throughout Australia - Russell Cameron at Flemington, Robert Smerdon at Ballarat, Dan O'Sullivan at Caulfield, Liam Birchley in Brisbane and now Jolly at Morphettville.

O'Sullivan began with Aquanita at Morphettville in 1998 having spent 16 years with John Sadler at Flemington. He regards the move as positive for his career, Jolly's career and for South Australia.

"I've always felt I would return to Melbourne one day, but I would not have had the opportunity to do this had it not been for the support of both Aquanita and South Australia," O'Sullivan said. "There's no doubt SA has been a great help to me. Aquanita is a very progressive stable and this has been planned for a while. The time was right and I think the move is a positive. Aquanita showed faith in me as their Adelaide trainer and now they've placed that faith in Richard. He'll have the same support of both the stable and the locals and I think he's the right person for the job."

Jolly will officially join the stable as of August 1 and, while O'Sullivan hands over the reigns locally, he will still prepare his team here in Adelaide until the Caulfield stables are ready in September.

"I'll take over the ones I think are up to Melbourne standard such as Nip Of Cognac, (pictured), the others and the ones on the way through the classes will join Richard's team," O'Sullivan said. "All the owners have been consulted to ensure their best interests are met and the reaction has been very positive."

O'Sullivan is enjoying his best season as a trainer, sitting equal second on the premiership with Leon Macdonald, behind Tony McEvoy. He hopes to eventually leave his mark on the Victorian scene and aims to follow in the footsteps of other racing identities that began their careers in SA.

"There's been some great trainers produced in South Australia - such as Colin Hayes, Bart Cummings, John Hawkes, Ted Cameron and more recently David Hall, David Hayes and Russell Cameron," O'Sullivan said. "If I could one day be mentioned in the same breath as those to have started in South Australia, it would be a dream come true."

Used with permission of Thoroughbred Racing South Australia.

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