Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63268 Weekend Preview

Another exciting weekend for Aaron Bain Racing in our outstanding October.

A huge day on Friday to begin the weekend with the Gawler Cup day and ABR having two runners in the feature. On to Morphettville on Saturday then Clare on Sunday.

On the harness front there are feature races at Globe Derby Park.

Away from the track, ABR can report that our promising PACIFIC CROSS has been purchased by the famed Yulong Stud for $120,000 after being offered on the Inglis online auction.

The decision to list the mare came after interest in her following the win of her half brother Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.

For the ABR owners who took a share in PACIFIC CROSS they have been able to more than double their outlay in several months.

ABR kicks off with four-runners at the twilight meeting at Gawler on Friday.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE is our first runner in race two, the Kingsford Hotel Maiden (1100m) at 3.20pm SA time.

The four-year-old has drawn the extreme outside gate in an acceptance of 14 which includes two emergencies. Jason Holder has been booked to ride.

Consideration was given to not run because of the draw but after a study of the field, ABR decided to push ahead.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE has had two runs for two placings for ABR, the most recent a third over 1050m at Morphettville on October 4.

ABR’s next runners are in race seven, the $107,500 2025 Holdfast Insurance Brokers Gawler Cup (1500m) at 6.24pm SA time.

The race is a heat of the Sportsbet Happy Tails Series with a final at Morphettville next month.

LOUNGE BAR RUBI has drawn gate eight in a field of 16 with one emergency.

Stacey Metcalfe has been booked to ride and, after two runs back, the gelding is ready to improve. She has ridden him previously in a barrier trial at Gawler.

Early betting has LOUNGE BAR RUBI at the huge odds of $51. We think he is a better chance than the odds suggest.

DUAL PRESSURE has drawn perfectly in barrier three with Jacob Opperman in the saddle because regular rider Jason Holder cannot make his weight of 54kg.

The five-year-old has been set for this race and his last-start win over 1400 metres at Murray Bridge indicates he is spot on for the assignment.

DUAL PRESSURE has had early support from $5.50 into $4.20 before easing again to $5 with the Murray Bridge Cup winner Cartoon Graveyard the favourite at $4.

The negative for him was the rain early in the week which saw the track rated a heavy 9. The gelding is not comfortable on heavy tracks, so trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor are monitoring the surface before making a final decision on race morning.

Our final runner is the good mare BELLEZZE in race eight, the Coopers Brewery Fillies & Mares Rating 0-64 Handicap (1200m) at 6.54pm SA time.

The race is a heat of the Sportsbet Viddora Series with a final at Morphettville.

Todd Pannell has been booked to ride, and the mare has drawn barrier four in an acceptance of 18 with four emergencies.

BELLEZZE was a brilliant maiden winner at Morphettville Parks before having no luck when fifth at the same track. She looks well placed on Friday.

Only the one runner at Morphettville on Saturday as ABR goes for three straight Saturday winners.

Following the victories by DUAL PRESSURE at Murray Bridge and SHADY THINKER at Morphettville, it will be HIGH GARDEN attempting to make it a hat-trick.

HIGH GARDEN is an acceptor in race eight, the Peter Elberg Funerals Handicap (1600m) at 4.34pm SA time.

The five-year-old mare has gate nine in a field of 12 with Jason Holder in the saddle.

The mare was a good fourth in strong company at her most recent run at the end of September and has had a soft 800 metre trial to keep her fitness for Saturday.

Betting agencies think she has the job ahead and she is at $10 with the Victorian-trained Touchdown the favourite at $2.35.

On Sunday up to the wine region of the Clare Valley hoping to taste victory, as well as a Chardonnet, with just the one runner.

KING EDWARD lines up in the opening event, the Platinum Ag Services Maiden (1800m) at 1.20pm SA time.

The O T I -owned five-year-old has drawn gate three in a field of 12 and will be ridden by apprentice Matthew Chadwick who claims 1.5kg.

The gelding was ridden “upside down” last time at Gawler going forward early.

On Sunday at Clare, the extra step up in distance should suit in maiden company. ABR would be expecting him to be competitive.

Harness Racing

Three runners for ABR at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

There are two runners, both trained by Peter Bain, in the Listed $25,000 Alabar SA BOTRA Golden Nursery Stakes (1800m), race four at 7.24pm SA time.

OPEN THE GATES will come from gate three and the exciting ONE MILLIE outside her in four.

Bernadette Page will drive OPEN THE GATES while Wayne Hill will be in the sulky of ONE MILLIE.

ABR expects OPEN THE GATES to run well following her second in the heat while ONE MILLIE was so exciting with her thrilling heat win in excellent time.

Trainer Peter Bain is looking for his second training success in the Golden Nursery following the 2015 win by HILLTOP SOPHIA.

ABR’s other runner on Saturday is the excellent DREAMALITTLEDREAM which contests the SAHRC Legend Anne Mowday Pace Final (2230m), race five at 8.02pm SA time.

Wayne Hill will drive for trainer Peter Bain, but the mare has to come from barrier 11, gate four on the second row.

The mare has won five in a row and six of her seven starts in South Australia.

HEZA PUNK ROCKER runs at Melton in race nine, the Dynamic Print Group Pace (2240m) at 10.17pm SA time.

The gelding will start from the outside of the front row in gate seven.

HEZA PUNK ROCKER, trained by Emma Stewart and to be driven by Mark Pitt, has been placed at both runs this preparation and run very well. He gets his chance to return to the winner’s list on Saturday.

Two-year-old filly DEGARMEA TEALE accepted in the Group 1 $150,000 Nutrien Equine NSW Breeders Challenge (1609m) at Tabcorp Park Menangle, but she was scratched when trainer Emma Stewart was not completely happy with her.

On Monday, ABR heads to Globe Derby Park with the talented mare LIZZIE SHELBY.

Trained by Peter Bain and to be driven by Wayne Hill, LIZZIE SHELBY has drawn the extreme outside of the front row in gate seven in race nine, the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Pace (1800m) at 6pm SA time.

The mare hasn’t raced since July but has trialled well for her return to racing.