Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61821 Weekend Review

Fantastic to see so many of the ownership group at Morphettville on Saturday to cheer DUBAI FOCUS in the Group 1 South Australian Derby.

The result didn’t go as we would have liked finishing 10^th but there is no doubt he should have finished closer to winner.

Aaron Bain Racing is proud that a horse we purchased at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sales two years ago has won three races and picked up in excess of $200,000 in prizemoney and bonuses.

We look forward to giving him a good spell and bringing him back for a spring campaign with a possible goal the Gawler Cup in late October.

Trainer Aaron Bain said he wanted to thank everyone who was at Morphettville on Saturday to support the stable.

“It was great to have DUBAI FOCUS conclude his preparation in such a prestigious race,” Bain said.

“He lost no admiration from us with his performance, maybe the 2500 metres proved a touch too far, but he gave his all as he always does.

“Ned (Taylor) and I couldn’t be prouder of the horse and appreciate the support of the ownership group.”

A goal of ABR is to be a player on big days such as last Saturday and felt the barrier draws cost us at least one potential winner with BEACH PAD and NAVY GOLD both running sensationally to finish second in their respective races.

ABR is looking to have three runners this Saturday on the third and final day of the SA Autumn Carnival.

Our chance for black type will be the in-form RUBAMOS which will contest the Group 3 $220,000 The Cummings Stakes (1600m).

No runners for ABR at Oakbank on Wednesday, looking ahead to Goodwood Handicap day on Saturday.

Harness Racing

A good weekend for ABR on the harness front.

IVESEENHEAVENSLIGHT (3^rd) and BEACH DIAMOND (2^nd) both qualified for this week’s NSW Oaks at Menangle with placings in their heats on Saturday night.

Both fillies ran well, and while it would have been nice to win, they showed enough to be very competitive in the final.

Unfortunately, they have both drawn awkwardly in Saturday night’ Group 1 $200,000 John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks (2300m).

It will be race six at 7.32pm SA time.

IVESEENHEAVENSLIGHT has barrier eight with Jackie Barker to drive while BEACH DIAMOND will carry saddlecloth 11.

They may come in one gate with the first emergency drawn barrier seven.

At Globe Derby Park, LA MOTH resumed from a spell with an impressive victory giving trainer Peter Bain a two-for-two record since taking over the reins at ABR’s Gawler stables.

After settling two back in the running line, reinsman Wayne Hill let the mare sprint over the final 500 metres and LA MOTH raced away to win by 14 metres rating a smart 1:58.5.

Monday provided a double for ABR and took Peter Bain’s winning run to four straight.

LIZZIE SHELBY made it two straight this preparation with a comfortable 5-1/2 metre win in the Seymour Group Pace (1800m) as a $1.15 favourite.

She was forced to sit parked as was HILLTOP CRUSADER which resumed with an excellent victory in the Vale Bill Adams Pace (1800m).

A $1.30 favourite, HILLTOP CRUSADER drew clear in the home straight to win by one metre.

Monday’s winners were both driven in confident fashion by Wayne Hill.

 

ABR Weekend Star

LA MOTH took the award as ABR’s weekend star with her brilliant return to racing at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

Contesting the Ladbrokes Fast Withdrawals Pace (1800m), LA MOTH, now trained by Peter Bain and driven by Wayne Hill, came from barrier two on the second line in the field of nine.

What was unusual was the betting on the race.

The mare opened an odds-on $1.60 favourite but in the half hour lead up, she kept drifting eventually starting at $2.80.

Hill had her away nicely to settle two back in the running line before asking her to improve from the 600-metre mark.

LA MOTH responded and quickly put the field away by 14 metres rating 1:58.5.

Driver Wayne Hill was impressed by LA MOTH’s return to racing.

“She punched through real good from the second line,” Hill said.

“She travelled beautifully through the race.

“When I asked her to improve she grabbed the bit and trucked forward to the breeze.

“She felt a million dollars.

“Put them to the sword at the 400 (metres) and raced away.

“She had been working well and won as we thought she would.”