Robert Smerdon - Flemington

Robert was a more than accomplished jockey on the flat and over the hurdles and was always destined to turn his hand to racehorse training once weight forced him from the saddle.

His success as a jockey both within Australia and at International level provided Robert with an extensive grounding for training racehorses.

Being part of the famous Smerdon training dynasty further prepared him for the challenges associated with training racehorses.

Robert rode many winners for his father Bob with a highlight being three divisions of the Provincial Plate all trained by his father (and rumour has it strapped by brother John). Robert's uncle the legendary Arthur Smerdon was a training icon for well over four decades with victories in the VRC Oaks, Caulfield Guineas, Sandown Guineas, Moonee valley Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes, Australia Cup just some of his winning racehorses.

Those involved with Robert in those early years knew he was a trainer destined for success. It was not long after he started training that a flashing grey speedster Let's Get Physical saluted in the Blue Diamond to record his first Group 1 racing victory. Since then he has trained Group winners in all states of Australia (excluding Western Australia) and has the rare distinction of training outstanding hurdler Zabenz to a Group 1 winner in the tough American market. He has a Sydney Cup, Adelaide Cup, Goodwood to sit alongside his other Group 1 successes.

When Robert first joined Aquanita in 1999 he was arguably Victoria's leading country racehorse trainer and had been viewed as such for many years.

Since then he has made the transition to a leading metropolitan racehorse trainer based out of Flemington whilst maintaining a strong country flavour to his team through his ongoing role with our Ballarat stables. In season 2001/02 he held the leading strike rate of all Victorian Metropolitan trainers just two years after setting up his metropolitan base.

He is renowned as one of the country's most versatile racehorse trainers having won Group One Races with stayers and sprinters not to mention his countless successes over the jumps.

Robert works on the philosophy that "planning, preparation and the right environment are vital for the success of each individual racehorse".