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HARARE - Highly-rated Zimbabwean thoroughbred horse trainer Sebastian D’Aquino has joined the great trek to South Africa.
A variety of family and business reasons has resulted in D’Aquino’s relocation across the Limpopo where he has entered a partnership with veteran trainer Ronnie Sheehan at Milnerton in Cape Town.
“The reasoning behind the decision to relocate to South Africa, specifically Cape Town, is firstly a personal one. I have a young family who deserve the best with regard to an upbringing and education. It is mine and my wife Vanessa’s belief and hope that we can offer them both of these, in the Cape,” D’Aquino, a former Zimbabwe rugby international, told the Sporting Post last week.
“The situation is also compounded by the economic situation Zimbabwe currently finds itself in. More specifically the owner population in the racing industry has significantly dwindled over the years, and in the last few months racehorse owners are now a rare breed there.
“Disposable income for luxuries such as racing are unheard of. This directly affects my personal growth, goals and career progression.”
D’Aquino is relishing the chance of teaming up with Sheehan.
“He (Sheeehan) is a highly knowledgeable, vastly experienced trainer and I personally have a lot of respect for as a horseman, I also believe I can learn a lot about the Cape, the tracks and I’m sure a few other tricks,” said the Zimbabwean.
“Having him as a guiding force will be invaluable in ensuring the ease of transition and the shortening of the time frame of my personal acclimatisation into the new system.”
In 2013, D’Aquino had a fairytale season when his horse Ginepri won the prestigious OK Grand Challenge race only two months after he had survived a life threatening injury.
D’Aquino spent five days in the Intensive Care Unit after sustaining multiple facial injuries inflicted by an agitated horse he was tending to at the Borrowdale racecourse.
“I was at the starting stalls with a problem horse,” D’Aquino told the Daily News at that time.
“The horse kicked me in the face. My jaw was broken into many places, both my chick bones where fractured, my palate was shattered, I had to be sealed shut for some time.
“Tell you the truth I never thought I would get out of there in one piece. It’s a miracle. And then to came from that and win the OK Grand Challenge. It’s something special.”
