Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63497 Weekend Preview

An exciting weekend for Aaron Bain Racing with SHADY THINKER running at Kembla Grange, Sportsbet finals day at Morphettville, then the Vicbred Super Series finals at Melton in the evening.

ABR is hoping for super competitive performances at all venues.

SHADY THINKER lost no admirers at his first New South Wales run when fifth at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight again and gets the chance to atone at Kembla Grange on Saturday in race six the $160,000 Abax Civil C, G & E Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at 3pm SA time.

He lines up against several horses which beat him home at Rosehill Gardens and has drawn barrier six in a field of 15 with Nash Rawiller staying in the saddle.

With that ride and some trackwork also on SHADY THINKER, Rawiller is confident the gelding can be super competitive.

SHADY THINKER has been installed the $3.50 favourite with his Rosehill conqueror Tuned firming from $5.50 to $4.60 in early markets.

ABR has two runners at Morphettville on Sportsbet finals day.

DUAL PRESSURE, a game winner around the Parks last Saturday, contests race six, the $105,000 Sportsbet Happy Trails Final (1600m) at 3.27pm SA time.

He has drawn beautifully in barrier two in a field of 11.

With Jason Holder riding at Cranbourne on Saturday, apprentice Taylor Johnstone has gained the ride, and her claim means the gelding will carry .1kg under the minimum.

It is a tough race, but DUAL PRESSURE gets every chance to put his best hoof forward.

There has been early support for the ABR galloper, and he has firmed from $3.30 into $3 favourite.

Grey UTAH is ABR’s other runner in race seven, the $65,000 Sportsbet Restricted Series Final (1800m) at 4.07pm SA timer.

He has drawn barrier one in a field of 15 and Taylor Johnstone will also ride, and her claim brings him in .5kg under the minimum.

Trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor have opted to apply blinkers for the second time on UTAH in an attempt to improve his performance.

The four-year-old was beaten only 2-1/2 lengths when fifth at his most recent over 1800 metres at Morphettville on November 4 and the trainers believe the addition of blinkers can make up that gap.

UTAH has been steady in early markets at $8 with Flaming Navy a well-supported $3.60 public elect.

ABR has two runners at Clare on Sunday, and both will be ridden by Todd Pannell, who landed ONE MORE SONG an impressive winner at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Wednesday.

LADY SKYLLA steps out in race six, the Sportsbet Fast Form Rating 0-54 Handicap (1200m) at 3.42pm SA time.

The five-year-old Grand Syndicates-owned mare, having her first run for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, has drawn barrier three in a field of 13.

LADY SKYLLA has had a trial and jump out for ABR to ready her for Sunday, and Pannell was aboard each time.

Expect the mare to run strongly through the line.

DON’TDOUBTLAYLA is engaged in race eight, the Clare Pharmacy Rating 0 – 58 Handicap (1100m) at 4.58pm SA time.

She has come up with gate eight in an acceptance of 16 with four emergencies. There were two scratchings soon after acceptances, both drawn outside the ABR mare.

The mare had no chance when resuming at Morphettville and looks better placed on Sunday.

Pannell rode DON’TDOUBTLAYLA last time and stays with her. Expect the mare to be running on strongly at the finish.

Harness Racing

Draws have again not been kind to ABR in the three-year-old finals of the Vicbred Super Series at Melton on Saturday.

CAPTAIN PERFECT and BEACH DIAMOND both drew the back rows in the recent Victoria Derby and Victoria Oaks respectively but were good enough to run superbly each finishing second.

Come the Super Series finals and again they both have come up with back row gates.

CAPTAIN PERFECT doesn’t have long to wait, he is engaged in race one the Group 2 $100,000 APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series (2240m) for three-year-old colts & geldings at 5.37pnm SA time.

Mark Pitt retains the drive, and he comes from gate nine, two on the second row.

Last week CAPTAIN PERFECT was able to lead and won impressively. He is a tough pacer and ABR knows he is capable of winning.

Price assessors believe CAPTAIN PERFECT can overcome his draw and have installed him the $3 favourite.

Next up for ABR is HILLTOP BLOSSOM in race five, the Group 2 $100,000 APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series (2240m) for two-year-old fillies at 7.45pm SA time.

She has drawn well in gate one and will be driven by Mark Pitt.

The filly ran a game fourth in her semi-final last week and from the draw should get a great run, but it is a high-quality field with two of her stablemates looking big dangers.

HILLTOP BLOSSOM is $19 in early markets, but ABR likes the way she is improving for trainer Emma Stewart and hope she can at least sneak a place.

Victoria Oaks runner-up BEACH DIAMOND lines up in race six, the Group 2 APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series (2240m) for three-year-old fillies at 8.14pm SA time.

BEAC H DIAMOND was outstanding in winning her semi-final last week but has come up with gate 10, three on the second row for driver Cam Hart, which makes her task tougher.

Soho Americano, which beat her in the Oaks, has barrier three and looks a possible leader to make ABR’s filly even harder.

Punters believe Soho Americano can win again and she is the $1.55 favourite with BEACH DIAMOND second pick at $3.80.

ABR had a double at Launceston last Sunday and will be out to repeat the effort at the same venue this Sunday with the same two horses.

Form three-year-old HUNGRY HIPPO has come up with barrier one in race five, the Family Fun Night 29 November Pace (1680m) at 6.37pm SA time.

He will again be driven by Alex Ashwood who had the steer last Sunday.

It should be a good race to have HUNGRY HIPPO spot on for next Saturday’s Sires final.

Initially, HEZA PUNK ROCKER was returning home after last week’s win, but trainer Emma Stewart decided to have him in Tasmania, and he will run in race eight, the Ladbrokes Popular SRM (1680m) at 8.22pm SA time.

He has gate five in a field of seven in the mobile event and again, Alex Ashwood retains the drive.

On Monday, ABR has one runner at Globe Derby Park.

HILLTOP CRUSADER will contest race seven, the Congratulations Lachlan and Tiyana Pace (1800m) at 4.04pm SA time.

No luck with the draw coming from gate seven, the outside of the front row, with Wayne Hill to drive.

HILLTOP CRUSADER has two wins from his six starts. He recently ran third in a Gawler trial to ready him for a return to racing.

 

Midweek winners

ONE MORE SONG was top of the pops with an outstanding win at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Wednesday, November 19.

Trained by Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, ONE MORE SONG accelerated from midfield to score easily in the Team Poly Tanks Fillies & Mares Maiden (1200m).

The three-year-old filly, bred and owned by Wayne Mitchell’s Pipeline Bloodstock, defied her starting price of $18 to win by four lengths from Sweet Kick ($101) with Synthesise ($2.50 fav), a quarter of a length away third.

Trainer Ned Taylor said One More Song’s win had not been a surprise.

“We had one run with her as a two-year-old,” Taylor said.

“It turned out to be a pretty good form race. She caught a speedy one in Esha that day and just lost her action in just trying to keep up with a very fast horse.

“We had enough time for her then and since she has grown and filled out.

“I think she is a nice filly.

“Todd (Pannell) was very confident today, but I had one question because we had not let her go in her trial and jump out.

Winning jockey Todd Pannell wasn’t surprised by One More Song’s victory.

“I hadn’t let her go in the jump out and trials,” Pannell said.

“It was good to let her go today.

“She had been going really good in those trials.

“She has been progressing really good and had a good break from her first start.

“The filly has come back bigger and better, and I have had a couple of sits on her and she did what I expected today.

Thursday saw ABR’s star pacing mare KISS win her semi-final of the APG – A Horse For Everyone Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old mares (2200m) at Ballarat.

Despite racing parked for more than a lap, KISS drew clear to win by 8-1/2 metres rating an excellent 1:55.6.

The Emma Stewart-trained mare, driven by Ryan Sanderson, now progresses to the Group 2 $100,000 final at Melton on Saturday, November 29.