Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61888 Successful Weekend For Abr

Aaron Bain Racing left it late but finished the South Australian Autumn Carnival with a win.

In fact, it was the last race of the three Saturdays of racing, but METRICAL did us proud with a sensational first-up victory.

The five-year-old, well ridden by Jason Holder, exploded over the last 200 metres to grab a win in the Grand Syndicates Handicap (1200m).

METRICAL looks headed for a good preparation, and he loves rain-affected going, provided SA does get some moisture from the sky.

Switching to harness racing at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, CAPTAIN PERFECT landed another feature with a dominant victory in the Ladbrokes South Australian St Leger.

Then, trainer Peter Bain kept up his 100% record in 2025 with LA MOTH scoring in great style, driven by Sam Hill.

ABR heads to Thomas Farm Murray Bridge on Wednesday with four runners.

WARM BREEZE starts out day in race three, the Thomas Farms Murray Bridge Maiden (1200m) at 1.20pm SA time.

Jason Holder will ride, and the five-year-old gelding has drawn gate one in a field of 12.

WARM BREEZE won an 800-metre trial at Murray Bridge in March in preparation for his racing return.

The ex-New Zealander has had just the one run for ABR at Balaklava, and we expect him to improve this preparation.

Ex Victorian PIANTA is our second runner in race four the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Maiden (1800m) at 1.55pm SA time.

Brooke King will ride and claim 2kg drawing gate six in an acceptance of 18 with four emergencies. The four-year-old has had two trials and King rode him in the most recent at Balaklava.

PIANTA is a true stayer has been placed over 2450m and 2600m in Victoria.

ESKY has drawn wide in gate 16 in an acceptance of 18 with two emergencies in race seven, the AM & ME Langsford Plasterboard Contractors Rating 0-68 Handicap (1800m) at 3.40pm SA time.

The five-year-old won a 1300 metre trial at Balaklava with Connor Murtagh in the saddle, and the Irishman retains the ride on Wednesday.

ESKY has won first up previously over distance and ABR considers he can be in the finish again.

Our day concludes with BETSY’S FLAG in race eight, the Sportsbet More Places Rating 0-56 Handicap (1200m).

ABR has opted to book apprentice Brooke King to ride and claim 2kg. The mare has drawn barrier 14 in an acceptance of 18 with four emergencies.

BETSY’S FLAG is an enigmatic mare and much better than her last start at Oakbank and we may opt to ride her quietly early with the hope she can finish off her race.

Harness Racing

On the harness racing front, at Globe Derby Park on Saturday, CAPTAIN PERFECT landed another feature with a dominant victory in the Ladbrokes South Australian St Leger.

For driver Wayne Hill it was his second St Leger success, the first being Badboy Nitro, back in 2006.

Then, trainer Peter Bain kept up his 100% record in 2025 with LA MOTH scoring in great style, driven by Sam Hill.

Bain has had five runners this year for as many wins with LIZZIE SHELBY and LA MOTH winning twice, and HILLTOP CRUSADER once.

CAPTAIN PERFECT looks to have a good future and he can only be improved by his St Leger success, his first run from a break.

The three-year-old colt has won two races in succession with his first victory being in the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Homegrown Classic (1720m) at Melton on December 21.

He rated an excellent 1:55.7 coming home his last 800 metres in 57.8 seconds.

Perhaps surprisingly, it was just trainer Emma Stewart’s first SA St Leger win.

Stewart has opted to leave CAPTAIN PERFECT in SA with ABR and may race at Globe Derby Park over the next three weeks.

 

ABR Weekend Star

Even with the excellent Globe Derby wins, including a St Leger success, there is no doubt METRICAL was our weekend star.

The five-year-old’s devastating sprint to victory at Morphettville on Goodwood Handicap day was important in the growth of Aaron Bain Racing.

Trained by Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, METRICAL ($21) flashed down the outside to win the $75,000 Grand Syndicates Handicap (1200m) by a long head from Sachem ($10) with Great Maximus ($4.60) a head away third.

The five-year-old had been listed as third emergency for the event but managed to obtain a start on Friday with three scratchings and the ABR trainers were looking forward to testing him in the Benchmark 68 handicap.

Jockey Jason Holder had the gelding away nicely and settled just worse than midfield with cover but improved to be just behind the leading pack turning for home.

Holder got the gelding to the extreme outside into the clear with 200 metres left and METRICAL exploded to grab victory.

Trainer Aaron Bain said with his win METRICAL had proved a value purchase.

“It was a great way to end the carnival,” Bain said.

“We find with the tried horses they have a really good second prep for us.

“All his work leading up to today had impressed the whole team – Ned (Taylor), Will (O’Malley) and Barend (Vorster) – when he came into the mounting yard he looked outstanding.

“He ran really well first up for us at 1250 around the Parks track when we bought him, flashed home and unlucky not to win.

“Today was just a perfect race for him on the main track and worth $75,000 – I think he doubled his purchase price with what we collect today.

“For the owners it is a great result.

“Full credit to our whole team, the systems are really starting to work – we have the right people in the right places – and that includes our ownership base.

“We will see the best of METRICAL with the sting out of the ground.

“To win today, he is going to have a good prep.”

Winning jockey Jason Holder said METRICAL had produced a brilliant sprint to score.

“It was great to finish Goodwood day with a win,” Holder said.

“METRICAL has run well since coming into the ABR stable.

“I’m sure we are all learning about him with time.

“Aaron said not to go 30-wide turning for home but to keep him balanced with one last run at them.

“I think he really loved that.

“He was travelling really good on the corner and I just needed to get out.

“He was in the right part of the track and let down beautifully.”