Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63199 Abr Weekend Review

Aaron Bain Racing’s bid for an outstanding October hit the mark on the weekend.

DUAL PRESSURE returned to winning form with an outstanding win at Murray Bridge and will now head to the $107,500 Holdfast Insurance Brokers Gawler Cup (1500m) on Friday, October 24.

Jockey Jason Holder was at his brilliant best on DUAL PRESSURE taking the gelding to the front and holding off the opposition.

On the harness front, NO NOTTHEBUTTONS was successful at Melton on Friday evening, then at the same venue on Saturday, BEACH DIAMOND led throughout in her heat of the Victoria Oaks to qualify for Saturday’s Group 1 $150,000 final.

Driver Mark Pitt, having his first drive on the filly, was impressed by Beach Diamond.

“She gave me a really good feel,” Pitt said.

“We really only clicked up the last half, and she still felt like she had a lot left.

“When the danger Soho Americano came up, I was travelling well but she took a little bit to get around the turn.

“Once she got around the turn she powered away.”

Although he didn’t win, CAPTAIN PERFECT ran third in his Victoria Derby heat and also qualified for this week’s Group 1 $150,000 final.

Driver Mark Pitt said Captain Perfect had done an excellent job.

“I thought he was super,” Pitt said.

“He did all the work, and I think the 2700 (metres) suits him.

“He likes to run along at a genuine tempo.

“If he gets a good draw in the final he will be in it for a long way.”

SWEET MIA continued her winning form at Albion Park, sitting parked and still proving way too good for her rivals.

Only the one runner at Balaklava on Wednesday when the promising UTAH attempts to make it two wins in a row competing in the TQCSI Class One Handicap (1600m), race three at 3.10pm SA time.

The event is a heat of the Restricted Series which will culminate in a final next month at Morphettville.

Jason Holder will ride, and he has drawn gate seven in a field of nine.

UTAH was impressive rounding up his rivals at Strathalbyn on September 28 to win a 1600 metre maiden following a first-up third over the same trip at Balaklava on September 10.

The grey has trained on well and ABR hopes he can measure up on Wednesday.

ABR is excited about Saturday’s racing at Morphettville with SHADY THINKER returning to the track.

A winner of two of his three starts, SHADY THINKER won a trial at Balaklava last month to prepare him for his return to the track.

An interesting sidelight to Saturday involves ABR’s PACIFIC CROSS.

Her half- brother Autumn Boy won the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Guineas ensuring he has a significant stud career ahead.

PACIFIC CROSS is also beautifully bred being by Merchant Navy out of the mare Rosegarden.

She has had two starts for ABR and cost herself each time with slow starts.

With the win of Autumn Boy, ABR’s phone has been ringing off the hook with breeders inquiring about her availability and it would seem we could collect more than double our purchase price if we wished to sell.

 

Weekend Star

 

DUAL PRESSURE, courtesy of a 10/10 ride by Jason Holder, returned to the winning list at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Saturday to be ABR’s Weekend Star.

Coming from an awkward gate of 11 in a field of 16, jockey Jason Holder elected to go the front in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m) rather than be caught four and five wide.

It proved the right decision as DUAL PRESSURE ($5) could not be run down and scored a half-length victory from Tosen Water ($15) with Angelic Appeal ($16), three-quarters of a length away third.

Trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor have had the $107,500 Holdfast Insurance Brokers Gawler Cup (1500m) on Friday, October 24 as a target for the five-year-old this preparation.

On his Bridge run, the gelding must be a great chance.

Trainer Ned Taylor believes DUAL PRESSURE is headed for a strong preparation.

“DUAL PRESSURE is one we stretched the budget on buying him online,” Taylor said.

“We thought this would be his preparation to shine and it was great to get the win.

“He is a lovely horse with a great action, but he can be a bit quirky and have a think in his races.

“Stubby (Jason Holder) has got to know him better and today we left it up to him.

“We didn’t draw that well and Stubby took the bull by the horns.

“It was great to see the horse out to 1400 metres and really stretching out well.

“We stretched him out in distance today and now it is on to the Gawler Cup, and he should be competitive.

“We were very happy with his first up run in the Wylie, he half got checked for a run and bounced out if it really well.”

Winning jockey Jason Holder said DUAL PRESSURE had been impressive.

“He ran well last start and needed the run,” Holder said.

“Today he raced beautifully.

“He jumped a bit too well and I had to let him go and rode him confidently.

“He has raced close before and been hard to beat.

“I thought he got a bit tired late but did enough to win.

“Going forward he will improve on that because he is a nice horse.”