26 starts, 3 wins $11,259 stake money to date
Racing Name and Breeding: "Aquataine" 2005 6yr B M Brylin Boyz - What You Are
Stable Name: "Suzie"
Owner(s): R J Fantham, Ms C N Maber, Mrs J M Nickel, S R Nickel, Mrs J C Evison, B E Evison
Breeder(s): R G Dickson
"...bought as a weanling and now winning races as a 6yr old..."
Some owners need to be given medals for perseverance. That's what the owners of Aquataine need. But they are more than happy to have the wins now than the medal.
After seening an advertisement in the Harness Racing Weekly advertising a dispersal sale and finding there was a weanling by Brylin Boyz out of the mare What You Are to be presented, the owners became interested. Initially they had been keen to purchase an older brother of the weanling filly, but were not able to secure him. So, having seen this advertisement, they spoke to Nicky Chilcott with a view to bidding and possibly purchasing this weanling filly.
(A number of the owners at Cambridge 24/12/2011)
Arrangements were made to have Danny McKendry, brother of Maurice, who is resident in the South Island, view the horse and bid at the sale on their behalf. They were the successful bidders for $1,500.
Between then and now, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. However the owners remained faithful and positive that they could achieve something with this little filly - not realising they would have to wait until a 6 year old before it all came to fruition.
Progress towards racing was made by the owners establishing a racing lease with friends. The fun was about to start!
Aquataine (Suzie) had her first start at Cambridge (Morrinsville TC) on 18 January 2009 and finished 9th. After seven starts she finished 4th when driven by Peter Ferguson at Cambridge on 8 April 2010. This was during a period of time when Nicky was off the driving scene after having suffered an injury. May and July 2010 again provided a hint of what was to come by another two 4th placings. It was in 2011 that Suzie started to hit her straps.
First up for the new season saw her start at Alexandra Park and she finished 3rd. This was a most encouraging run and the owners were quietly confident that things could progress better from there.
25th August saw her first win. On the home track at Cambridge she scored in a maiden trot race and the owners were overjoyed. What could be better? Two 6th placings at Cambridge and Alexandra Park in September were still encouraging, Then in October she had two 2nd placings, both at the home track - Cambridge Raceway.
On 3 November 2011 Suzie won her 2nd race and then seven days later, she scored again at Cambridge Raceway. The team was by this time ecstatic!!!
Three further unplaced starts indicated it was time for a break.
Aquataine has gone into the paddock for a month to freshen up. But the owners are sufficiently encouraged to hope there are more wins in store.
We wish them well. (Aquataine is No. 10 in photo below)
