Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 62484 Weekend At Mildura

Aaron Bain Racing’s decision to take a team to the Mildura Cup carnival paid dividends with two good winners.

SHOOTOOSE turned in a tough performance to score narrowly on Friday, then TERRITORIAN overcame a shocking start to win on Saturday and give ABR our first winner for the Grand Syndicates ownership group.

On Wednesday, ABR heads to Murray Bridge on Wednesday with just the one runner.

We are hoping to see further improvement from OH LOVEY NO in race two, the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Maiden (2000m) at 12.45pm SA time.

Apprentice Matt Chadwick will ride and claim 2kg coming from barrier three in an acceptance of 12. There was an early scratching reducing the field to 11.

OH LOVEY NO ran better second up at Gawler last week over 1700 metres and should be suited by the extra 300 metres on Wednesday.

Saturday at Morphettville, Sunday at Sportsbet Gawler then next Wednesday at Balaklava completes the 2024/25 racing season.

ABR Weekend Star

TERRITORIAN was definitely ABR’s weekend star with a last-to-first victory at Mildura on Saturday.

It was like a harness racing with TERRITORIAN coming off a handicap after rearing in the gates and giving away a five length start to the rest of the field.

For Aaron Bain Racing we were delighted to land our first winner for the successful Grand Syndicates ownership group.

But it was not achieved without early drama in the Mildura Rural City Council Maiden (1400m).

The three-year-old, expected to race up on the speed, reared up as the gates opened losing four lengths and settled at the tail of the field giving his backers and supporters heart palpitations.

Jockey Brad Rawiller didn’t panic on Territorian ($1.28 fav) and railed up throughout not going around another runner and the gelding finished best to grab a half-length win from Aussie Adaptor ($15) with Goochee Gal ($7) a neck away third.

The victory brought up a Mildura Cup double for ABR having won with Shootoose on day one.

After two excellent seconds at Balaklava, Territorian deserved a win, and he can go progress through the grades following his maiden win.

Trainer Ned Taylor said Territorian had done an excellent job after his mistake at the start.

“Obviously things didn’t go to plan early,” Taylor said.

“Brad (Rawiller) made it work, and the horse was really good.

“He got very strong on him mid-race and hit the line strongly.

“It was encouraging that his last 100 metres was his best.

“We are very happy with the horse and result.

“In time he looks like he could get 1600 metres but for the present we might look for a Class One over 1400 metres for him.”

Winning jockey Brad Rawiller believes Territorian can continue to improve.

“Apologies for the start,” Rawiller said.

“You want to take advantage of a good barrier. I can’t put it down to anything, he just wanted to step back and went up in the air.

“The result was we had to ride him from behind.

“He travelled through and was always going to be hard to beat.

“When he got the split, at first, I was not overconfident, but I liked his last 100 metres.

“He held them off strong and that was despite trying to half get away from the inside.

“He was well placed today and mine was the easy part even though I nearly stuffed it up.

“Hopefully, it will be a good confidence boost going forward.

 

 

Superb Shootoose

The decision by Aaron Bain Racing to target the two-day Mildura Cup carnival stuck gold first up with a brilliant victory by Shootoose.

Scoring a last-stride victory in the Mildura Gateway Tavern Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m), Shootoose also gave the training partnership of Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor their first interstate success.

The six-year-old, a $31 chance, settled second last early for jockey Taylor Johnstone before being brought to the outside in the home straight.

The gelding steadily reduced the margin on the leaders arriving to score a short half head win from Mistavain ($19) with Neon’s Last ($11) a long neck away third.

Trainer Aaron Bain said Shootoose may have postponed retirement with his win.

“We put the tongue tie on today,” Bain said.

“He was here in Mildura to retire.

“One last effort and he has done well, so he might still retire a winner.

“He went terrific today and defied the early track pattern.

“He went super and a great ride by Taylor (Johnstone).

“We will take him home and on today’s showing maybe there is another run or two in him.

“Maybe a 1400 metre race on a suitable track if we can find one.”

Winning jockey Taylor Johnstone said she he not been surprised by Shootoose’s win.

“His last couple of runs have been a bit disappointing,” Johnstone said.

“However, I jumped him out on Monday, and he gave me a really lovely feel.

“If he was going to win, he went in to today 100% right.

“I was a little bit worried when he jumped a bit slow from the gates, but I was patient, and it worked out well.

“I knew I was travelling into the corner really well, but I wanted to be as patient as I could on him.

“I didn’t want him to hit the front too early because he is a bit of a thinker.

“It was a tight finish, and he did a good job to stick his neck out.”

Shootoose has won four races from 14 starts since being bought online by Aaron Bain Racing collecting $98,575 to more than justify his purchase.