Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63062 Weekend Review

Aaron Bain Racing was delighted to welcome a new group of owners into the winner’s circle at Strathalbyn on Sunday.

UTAH’s win was a terrific way to welcome many first-time participants into the ABR success family.

It was fantastic to see a number of owners on course to cheer home the grey.

Trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor are confident UTAH can progress through the grades and believe, in time, is capable of city victories.

On the harness front there was a winning double at Port Pirie on Saturday.

Wins by DREAMALITTLEDREAM and OPEN THE GATES took trainer Peter Bain’s season tally to 17 winners from just 29 starters at an amazing strike rate of 59% and propelled him into eighth position on the SA Trainer’s premiership.

Both winners were driven by Wayne Hill and found the front in their respective races.

Backed from $2.05 into $1.70 favourite, DREAMALITTLEDREAM, from gate three, had a short battle for the early lead with Ubetonred ($3.80) which had begun quickly from the pole position in the Ladbrokes Kapunda Spring Cup (heat one) over 1609 metres.

After a quick 28.2 second first quarter, Hill was able to back the tempo off for a 32.6 second 400 metres before dashing home a final 800 metres in a slick 57.7 seconds.

DREAMALITTLEDREAM beat Ubetonred by 2-1/2 metres with Lincs Poor Boy ($34), three metres away third.

OPEN THE GATES, a two-year-old filly, was having her first start for Bain after doing her early racing under the care of Emma Stewart in Victoria.

Coming from gate five, the filly did a bit of work to find the front but once at the head of affairs she was never seriously challenged.

OPEN THE GATES ($1.22 fav) drew away to win by 8-1/2 metres from Queen Crocker ($81) with Ella Kate ($18), a half-metre away third, rating a smart 1:57.3.

The filly is not expected to back up this Saturday in the $9999 SA Sapling Stakes (1800m) at Globe Derby Park but have her next run in the $8500 SA Golden Nursery Stakes heats at the same track on Saturday, October 18.

ABR star DEGARMEA TEALE remained unbeaten at Menangle in Sydney on Monday leading throughout in her heat of the Nutrien Equine NSW Breeders Challenge (1609m) for two-year-old fillies.

A winner of her only three starts, the filly led throughout for trainer Emma Stewart, driven by Cam Hart scoring comfortably by three metres rating 1:54.9.

With the victory, DEGARMEA TEALE has now qualified for the $25,000 semi-finals to be run at Menangle on Saturday, October 11.

On Wednesday, ABR has just the one runner at Balaklava.

CANNES, a three-year-old filly by All Too Hard, will line up in race two the Clare Valley Toyota Maiden (1050m) at 2.20pm SA time.

She has drawn gate two in a field of 12 and will be ridden by Ben Price.

CANNES had a jump out back in January before a break.

This time in she has had a jump out and trial to prepare her for a race debut.

Also on Wednesday, at Globe Derby Park, trainer Peter Bain will look to add to his super strike rate with HILLTOP BLOSSOM in race one, the Bianco Reinforcing Pace (1800m) at 12.09pm SA time.

The two-year-old filly is taking on older horses and will come from gate six with Wayne Hill in the sulky.

After an unlucky first up second at Mildura in May, she scored a tough win at the same venue a fortnight later before going for a break.

HILLTOP BLOSSOM is resuming on Wednesday and ABR hopes she can measure up to the best of her age during the SA carnival through the rest of 2025.

 

Weekend star

 

Handsome grey UTAH was the ABR weekend star with his impressive win at Strathalbyn on Sunday.

Having just his second start for co-trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, the four-year-old finished powerfully from midfield to win easily in the SA Police Legacy Maiden (1600m).

Ridden by Jason Holder, UTAH (($3.60) drew clear to win by 2-3/4 lengths from Youbeeforty ($31) with Annanda ($7) a neck away third.

After beginning well from gate two, the grey was outpaced early as runners from wide draw pushed forward to try and take up a prominent position.

Holder did not attempt to get into an early burn and allowed the gelding to balance up midfield before starting to move forward from around the 800-metre mark.

He secured a trail up towards the leaders before going clear turning for home and scoring comfortably.

UTAH looks every chance of going through the classes and will appreciate trips up to 2000 metres at least.

Trainer Ned Taylor said it had been a great win by UTAH.

“The race panned out perfectly for him,” Taylor said.

“It was a great ride by ‘Stubby’ (Holder), and he got a nice trail into the race.

“When he hit the front he really didn’t seem to know what he was doing but it was almost certainly the first time he had been in front in a race.

“He will he be all the better for the win.

“Hopefully he is going to be a nice horse going forward.”

Winning jockey Jason Holder said it was great to return to scale to be greeted by a large group of owners.

“I understand that UTAH was the first involvement in racing for a number of the owners,” Holder said.

“It was nice to ride a winner for them.

“Aaron (Bain) and Ned (Taylor) prepared the horse really well today, made my job easy.

“UTAH travelled really well in the run.

“But when he got to the front he wanted to look around a bit and star gaze.

“I think he is still learning what racing is all about. It was probably the first time he had hit the front in a race.

“I’m sure UTAH can go through his grades.”