Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61661 Abr Race Preview

Aaron Bain Racing is an unabashed fan of Oakbank racing at Easter.

Certainly, the on-track happenings have change dramatically with the removal of jumps racing, but the names of the races are etched in history.

The Hills Railway Stakes, Onkaparinga Cup and Country Cup are just three races which have been important in the history of SA racing.

The 2019 Hills Railway winner Despatch went on to win the Goodwood Handicap a month later.

This year, ABR is excited to have runners around the Adelaide Hills course at Easter.

On Saturday, ABR takes three runners to the picturesque track.

BEACH PAD will be our first runner in race six, the Coopers Brewery Onkaparinga Cup (2150m) at 3.02pm SA time.

Apprentice Taylor Johnstone will ride and her 2kg claim will see our stayer line up 2kg under the minimum of 54kg.

BEACH PAD has drawn well in gate two in a field of 14.

He is going for a hat-trick of wins following victories at Strathalbyn and Morphettville.

ABR is lifting the bar again but BEACH PAD stays well and handles undulating tracks so he should be competitive.

The price assessors believe he can step up and early markets had him $4.60 equal favourite with Motorace in an open betting affair. Punters liked the ABR galloper and he has firmed into $4 favourite.

RUBAMOS gets his chance to notch a win in race seven, the Simon Tolley The Vintage (1400m) at 3.42pm SA time.

It is heat eight of the Adelaide In Autumn Series which culminates in a final a Morphettville next month.

Again, Taylor Johnstone takes the ride with her 2kg claim but unfortunately he has drawn barrier 14, the extreme outside gate.

RUBAMOS is racing very well with seconds at Morphettville Parks, then Morphettville when he was beaten an eyelash.

There is no doubt the 1400 metres is an ideal trip, and he has to be considered.

RUBAMOS was installed the $3.70 favourite in opening betting markets.

ABR’s day concludes in race eight, the Listed Harcourts Adelaide Hills Railway Stakes (1100m) at 4.17pm SA time with METRO LEGEND.

Jason Holder has the mount coming from barrier eight in a field of 15.

ABR has kept him fresh for Saturday, but METRO LEGEND has had trial wins at Murray Bridge and Morphettville to ready for him for a race return.

Now a seven-year-old, the gelding goes well first up and he shouldn’t be too far away in a quality field.

Eagle-eyed fans will note that METRO LEGEND is carrying new colours – purple with gold crossed sashes and cap - those of strong ABR supporter, John Curnow.

Early markets suggest he has the job ahead and he is at $41 behind the $2.50 favourite Sir Sway. Now, he has eased to $51.

ABR takes another trio of runners to Oakbank on Easter Monday.

WARM BREEZE starts our day in race one, the Sugar Financial Services Maiden (1050m) at 1.20pm SA time.

Jason Holder has the ride coming from gate 11 in an acceptance of 17 with three emergencies.

WARM BREEZE, a former New Zealander, ran a nice fifth at Balaklava in November at his first run for us and has since won a Murray Bridge trial on March 14.

Hopefully, he will prove a good winning chance.

Another to resume is BETSY’S FLAG in race two, the Oakbank Hotel Class One (1100m) at 1.55pm SA time.

She comes from gate three in a field of13 with Jason Holder in the saddle.

The mare has finished well back at both her runs for ABR but had no luck at all at her first run.

BETSY’S FLAG has deliberately been kept fresh for Monday and ABR hopes to see her run very well.

On-pace runner THERE GOES MY HERO completes our day in race five, the Klose’s Foodland Rating 0-62 Handicap (2150m) at 3.40pm SA time.

He has drawn barrier three in a field of 13 and again, Jason Holder will be in the saddle.

THERE GOES MY HERO has thirds at Oakbank and Murray Bridge at his most recent runs and the step up to 2150m should suit him perfectly.

Holder is a master rider and loves middle distance races – he is a real bonus.

The four-year-old should give a great sight.

ABR took a big team of horses to the trials at Balaklava on Thursday.

Trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor were very happy with the trials.

Ex-Singapore gallopers MAKIN, ASIF and GHALIB all trialled very well.

Others to please were METRICAL and GOODNITE MOON.

Harness Racing Update

ABR will have our first runner at Globe Derby Park for some time on Saturday.

Two-year-old OPEN THE GATES runs in race eight, heat two of the SA BOTRA Kindergarten Stakes Series (1800m) at 9.33pm SA time.

The filly, to be driven by Wayne Hill, has drawn gate seven, the extreme outside of the front row.

OPEN THE GATES was first past the post on debut in a heat of the Gold Tiara at Bathurst on March 19 but was relegated to second after a protest.

The filly then ran third in the consolation.

Hopefully, she can break through on Saturday.

ABR, in partnership with out good friends at Summit Bloodstock, along with Tonkin Stewart Racing purchased six yearlings at the Nutrien Equine Yearling Sale earlier this week.

Costing $218,000 those purchases will hopefully be our stars of 2026.

We picked up two Sweet Lous fillies, other fillies by Captaintreacherous, Bling It On and Muscle Mass plus a colt by McWicked.