Cortopassi And Warwick To Join Forces
9 March, 2018
Harness
Prominent West Australian harness racing figures Aldo Cortopassi and Aiden Warwick will form a training partnership in the coming weeks, in what shapes to be a significant move.
Warwick has just returned to training and driving duties this year after a long time away from the sport, while Cortopassi is looking to cut down his team following the Kalgoorlie season.
Cortopassi, whose feats include winning a RWWA Cup and Easter Cup, has spent plenty of time doing trackwork with Warwick at owner Rob Tomlinson’s place in Pinjarra and felt the time was right to form a partnership.
“I scaled my numbers right back after Kalgoorlie and wanted to start concentrating more on quality than quantity,” he said.
“One morning I was having coffee with Rob and he put the idea to me.
“It was too good an offer to knock back to work with class animals.”
Cortopassi also said the always improving facilities at Tomlinson’s place would be beneficial for the strong team of pacers he hopes to put together with Warwick.
Under the new partnership, Warwick will be the trainer for the stable, while Cortopassi will do most of the driving for the stable.
Cortopassi said in the early stages of the partnership he and Warwick would pay more attention to their own horses, but it wouldn’t take long for the pair to work out the setup.
“We can complement each other, there is a fair bit of knowledge between us,” he said.
“We will have the ability to bounce ideas off each other, and nut out any problems.
“Aiden walks in with a lot of knowledge from his time working in America and Canada, so together we will be able to have a good crack at it.”
A regular participant during the Kalgoorlie pacing season, Cortopassi said having two trainers at the stable would make travelling horses around the state significantly easier.
He said he wouldn’t rule out setting up satellite stables at country venues like Kalgoorlie.
“I have spoken to Aiden about setting up a satellite stable and sending horses there for the season,” Cortopassi said.
“If Kalgoorlie continues, I will be the first to support it by sending horses there.
“They have always looked after me.”
Cortopassi holds a dual licence as a trainer of both harness and thoroughbred horses, and indicated he would retain the licence as he enters the partnership.
Tim Walker