Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61865 Sa Goodwood Handicap Day

South Australia’s rich autumn carnival comes to a close on Saturday with the premier sprint the Goodwood Handicap the day’s highlight.

ABR doesn’t have a Goodwood runner this year but ironically, one of our Morphettville runners on Saturday, RUBAMOS, ran in the race last year.

He only came into ABR’s team earlier in 2024 and was having just his third run for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, and while unplaced was only 3.6 lengths behind the winner, the outstanding Benedetta.

Come forward 12 months and the trainers have a better understanding of RUBAMOS and the seven-year-old is in excellent form.

RUBAMOS will seek to give ABR our first black type success in the Group 3 $220,000 Hahn Cumming Stakes (1600m), race six at 2.42pm SA time.

Taylor Johnstone, who has enjoyed a good association with gelding, will ride jumping from barrier four in a field of 12.

As a last-start winner of The Vintage at Oakbank, RUBAMOS is entitled to take his place on Saturday.

Price assessors believe he has the job ahead and RUBAMOS is $17 in early markets with the favourite Arran Bay at $4.20.

Later support saw ABR’s runner into $12 with the favourites now Arran Bay and Nonconformist at $4.80

NAVY GOLD will be ABR’s first runner on Saturday lining up in the opening event, the SkyCity Handicap (1800m) at 11.47pm SA time.

Jason Holder will ride again coming from gate nine in a field of 13.

The trainers opted to back the four-year-old up after his excellent second from a horrible gate last Saturday.

NAVY GOLD has been racing in terrific form and looks suited again.

The TAB listed NAVY GOLD at $5.50 behind the $4.20 favourite Wine Barron but punters felt that was too juicy and he firmed into $4 favourite with Wine Barron out to $4.40.

Subsequent betting saw ABR’s runner drift to $4.60 with Wine Barron firming again to $3.60 favourite.

ABR also accepted with METRICAL on Saturday, but he was listed as the third of four emergencies in a field of 20 in race nine, the Grand Syndicates Handicap (1200m).

Jason Holder has been booked to ride and the five-year-old drew well in barrier eight.

METRICAL runs well fresh and we would look for him to run well and he has obtained a start with three scratchings.

The TAB has the gelding at $19 with the favourite Beauty Rising at $4.

METRICAL has drifted to $26 with Great Maximus the firming $4.40 favourite.

 

Harness Racing

ABR is looking for another Group 1 win with our two three-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $200,000 John Gibson Memorial New South Wales Oaks (2300m), race six at 7.35pm SA time.

IVSEENHEAVENSLIGHT and BEACH DIAMOND did not fare well in the draw coming up with saddlecloths eight and eleven, respectively. There is an emergency in seven so they can come in one spot, but BEACH DIAMOND will have to start from the outside of the front row.

Both found the front in their heats last week eventually finishing third and second but will definitely be improved by those runs.

With the scratchings of well fancied Luv The Nitelife and Precise, the market on the race has changed with Soho Americano the $2.90 favourite.

IVSEENHEAVENSLIGHT, with Jackie Barker to drive opened at $6.50 and is now into $5 while Cam Hart stays with BEACH DIAMOND which seems nice odds at $13 but has now firmed to $10.

ABR will be looking for another feature win at Globe Derby Park on Saturday with the talented CAPTAIN PERFECT running in the $9999 Ladbrokes South Australian St Leger, race five at 8.29pm SA time.

Trained by Emma Stewart, the three-year-old hasn’t raced since winning the Alabar Vicbred Platinum final at Melton on December 21.

Wayne Hill will drive CAPTAIN PERFECT which has gate three in a field of six.

Trainer Peter Bain will be looking to extend his winning run of four when the impressive LA MOTH lines up in race seven, the Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Pace (1800m) at 9.29pm SA time.

Wayne Hill stays with the mare which resumed with a brilliant win last Saturday.

LA MOTH has an awkward draw of six but could come into five with an emergency in gate two.