Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63312 Abr Weekend Review

It was fantastic to have our first win for the highly successful ownership group of OTI Racing on Sunday.

It might have just been a Clare meeting, but KING EDWARD indicated his staying potential with a strong win.

He is the first horse entrusted to Aaron Bain Racing by principal Terry Henderson and the OTI team and to have a horse win carrying their colours was very exciting.

King Edward’s last 200 metres was very good, and trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor are looking to take him through his classes over even more ground than the 1800m of Sunday’s race.

Go to ABR’s Weekend Star to read more.

In interesting thoroughbred news, trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor are contemplating a trip to Sydney with stable star SHADY THINKER.

Trainer Aaron Bain said SHADY THINKER would be nominated for a $160,000 Benchmark 78 over 1200 metres at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, November 8.

“We want to test him at a higher level, and the Sydney race looks ideal,” Bain said.

“We will accept with him and hope for a decent draw. If he draws badly he won’t go.

“With the focus on the last day of the Cup carnival in Melbourne, we thought it a good time to sneak up to Sydney.”

ABR was pleased to see the highly talented HEZA PUNK ROCKER return to the winning list at Melton on Saturday.

HEZA PUNK ROCKER, trained by Emma Stewart and driven by Mark Pitt, was heavily backed from $2.50 into $1.45 favourite in the Dynamic Print Group Pace (2240m).

Coming from the extreme outside of the front row, Pitt allowed the gelding to balance up early and settled last in the field of eight.

With a lap to go and 1200 metres from home, Pitt sent HEZA PUNK ROCKER forward and sit outside the leader which looked to be his main danger.

The five-year-old increased the tempo with 400 metres left to travel and outstayed his rivals to win by 1-1/2 metres rating 1:55.8 with an excellent last 800 metres in 55.3 seconds.

ABR has always believed HEZA PUNK ROCKER to be one of the best pacers we have raced, and his record would be much better but for injury issues.

Classy mare SWEET MIA made it three wins in a row at Albion Park on Saturday with an easy win in the Garrards Horse & Hounds Mares Band 5 Pace (1660m).

With concession driver Tom Callaghan in the sulky for trainer Chantel Turpin, SWEET MIA rated a brilliant 1:51.2 in an easy five metre victory.

On Monday, trainer Peter Bain had another winner when LIZZIE SHELBY returned to racing with a victory in the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Pace (1800m).

Driver Waye Hill landed his biggest win on Saturday taking out the SA Cup on Miki To Success for Emma Stewart but showed he had no “premiership hangover” with his drive on LIZZIE SHELBY.

He went forward from gate six to sit parked then made an intelligent move with 600 metres to travel dropping down to trail the well backed leader Dallas Dale.

Then, he let LIZZIE SHELBY ($1.95 fav.) sprint up the sprint lane to run down Dallas Dale ($2.20) by 2-1/2 metres with Dee Jays Miss ($6.50), five metres away third.

The drive showed why Hill is the reigning premier driver in SA and has a good lead in this year’s premiership.

No runners for ABR at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Wednesday and we look forward top Morphettville on Saturday, then even bigger representation on the Melbourne Cup Tuesday meeting.

 

Weekend star

ABR has been waiting to step KING EDWARD out in trip, and he didn’t let us down at Clare on Sunday to be our Weekend Star.

Having just his third start for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, KING EDWARD showed his appreciation for a step up in distance with a strong win.

Given a smart ride by apprentice Matthew Chadwick, the five-year-old raced away over the final 200 metres to win the Platinum Ag Services Maiden (1800m).

KING EDWARD ($4.60) scored by an ever-increasing 2-1/4 lengths from Matino ($2.40 fav) with Lai Flipper ($21), a half-length away third.

Chadwick settled the gelding midfield on the fence early in the field of 10.

The leaders increased the tempo with 800 metres to travel, and the jockey found himself five lengths astern of the three leaders.

He stayed on the inside and KING EDWARD accelerated through the gap to win well and indicated he would love races over even more ground.

Winning trainer Aaron Bain said it had been great to get on board for the OTI team.

“KING EDWARD won emphatically today,” Bain said.

“He pulled up very well and looks great in the coat.

“It was a confidence run today after having issues at his previous run.

“Now we can progress to a Class One with him.

“There are two options – next Thursday, on Oaks day, at Gawler there is a Class One over 2100 metres or the following Friday, at Bordertown, there is a Class One over 2000 metres.

“Both are really good options, getting him out a little bit further in trip.

“Hopefully, the further he goes, the better he gets.

Winning jockey Matthew Chadwick said he believed KING EDWARD could continue to improve over ground.

“The horse put in a great performance today,” Chadwick said.

“It didn’t go as I planned, I was a pair further back than I wanted.

“He settled beautifully for me and around the half-mile (800m), I asked him to start improving.

“He took a little while to pick up the bridle but when he did I got behind the leaders very quickly.

“The opening came on the fence, and he put them away pretty comfortably.

“Hopefully it is onwards and upwards.”