Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63555 Abr Weekend Review

Aaron Bain Racing celebrated another feature race victory when BEACH DIAMOND scored a sensational win at Melton on Saturday.

An outstanding second recently in the Victoria Oaks behind Soho Americano, BEACH DIAMOND turned the tables on Saturday in the Group 2 $100,000 APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series (2240m).

Trained by Emma Stewart and driven by top New South Wales reinsman Cameron Hart, the filly, the strong $2.80 second favourite, beat the red-hot $1.75 favourite Soho Americano by 3-1/2 metres with Peace Out ($101), a metre away third.

There were two other good harness winners over the weekend.

ABR’s New South Wales trip with SHADY THINKER went pear-shaped when rain made the track heavy at Kembla Grange and we now know for sure he hates the going.

He is now on the way home for the team to plot a new program.

ABR was also really happy with DUAL PRESSURE’s close second in the Happy Trails Final but again rain on the day didn’t help.

No runners at the midweek meeting at Sportsbet Gawler on Wednesday and we look forward to possibly two runners at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

Harness racing

A great weekend for ABR with, as reported, BEACH DIAMOND’s brilliant victory at Melton in the Group 2 $100,000 APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series (2240m) for three-year-old fillies.

Read all about the win in the ABR’s Weekend Star.

On Sunday, at Launceston in Tasmania, our star pacer HEZA PUNK ROCKER won the Ladbrokes Popular SRM Pace (1680m) as a prelude for his feature run next Saturday.

Driven by Alex Ashwood, the five-year-old was a red hot $1.05 favourite and won by a neck.

HEZA PUNK ROCKER’s target is this Saturday in the Group 3 $50,000 Tassie Golden Apple (2200m), a standing start race, at the same venue.

HUNGRY HIPPO, second at Launceston on Sunday, this Saturday will start in the Group 3 $75,000 Globe Derby Final (2200m) for three-year-old colts & geldings.

On Monday at Globe Derby Park, the talented HILLTOP CRUSADER made a winning return to racing.

Coming from last in the Congratulations Lachlan & Tiyana Pace (1800m), the four-year-old, the $2.20 favourite, scored a neck win rating 1:59.4.

Trained by Peter Bain and driven by Wayne Hill, HILLTOP CRUSADER went back to last from his poor draw of gate seven before coming around the field to win nicely.

He has three wins and two placings from just seven starts.

HILLTOP CRUSADER is another winner for owner-breeder Val Bain, the matriarch of the Bain family.

ABR heads to Bendigo on Wednesday night for a round of the Vicbred Series Silver section.

Our night starts in race four, for two-year-old colts & geldings (2150m) at 7.10pm SA time with SHORELINE DREAM.

The colt will carry the 10 saddlecloth and start from gate three on the second row with Jackie Barker to drive.

HILLTOP STAR was first emergency in race five, for two-year-old fillies (2150m) at 7.48pm SA time but has obtained a run with a scratching already.

She also has a back row draw of 11, four on the second row with Ryan Sanderson in the sulky.

HILLTOP STAR was transferred from Peter Bain to Emma Stewart after her first-up win in the Ladyship Stakes at Globe Derby Park on November 15.

POPPY LANE is also in race five and could not have drawn any worse coming from 13 – gate six on the second row. Allan McDonough has the sit.

Earlier on Wednesday, trainer Peter Bain is heading to Mildura with the promising ALOHA PRINCESS and first starter GENERAL ROCKER.

General Rocker has drawn barrier five in race one, the Club Aquarius Fitness Maiden Pace at 12:01pm SA time. Wayne Hill will drive the colt in his first start on Wednesday. 

Aloha Princess has drawn barrier five in race five, the Australian Pacing Gold Pace (1790m) at 2.28pm SA time. The filly has had one run for an impressive victory at Globe Derby Park on June 1.

Wayne Hill drove her in that victory, and he will be in the sulky on Wednesday.

 

Weekend star

There was no doubt BEACH DIAMOND was ABR’s Weekend Star with her outstanding Group 2 win at Melton on Saturday.

Trainer Emma Stewart had fantastic success with Encipher a few seasons ago culminating in a win in the world’s richest harness racer, the TAB Eureka and it is not a complete stretch to say that ABR’s star filly is building a similar profile.

BEACH DIAMOND scored a brilliant win in the Group 2 $100,000 APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series (2240m) for three-year-old fillies.

Driven by top New South Wales reinsman Cameron Hart, the filly, the strong $2.80 second favourite, beat the red-hot $1.75 favourite Soho Americano by 3-1/2 metres with Peace Out ($101), a metre away third.

Aaron Bain, director of Aaron Bain Racing said Beach Diamond had a strong South Australian connection.

“More than half of her owners are South Australian,” Bain said.

“Longtime stable clients such as Brad Fitzgerald from Platinum Services, former Central District chair David Cavenett, Nicole Rantanen-Reynolds and Kirsty-Ann Tattoli have shares in the filly.

“Also in the ownership group is the Class of 24 which took shares in all our yearling purchases that year and which have had a great run.

“BEACH DIAMOND cost $50,000 as a yearling and has now won nine of her 13 starts and picked up $167,955 in stakes.

“What makes her success even more special is that she spent her early days at our Gawler stables and did all her early work under the care of my dad Peter and his team.

“She trialled in Adelaide before heading to trainer Emma Stewart in Victoria.

“It was a brilliant drive by Cam Hart.

“The favourite Soho Americano led from gate three while Cam had a second row draw on Beach Diamond.

“He made a decision to come around, had a try for the lead, and perhaps a little surprisingly, was able to find the front.

“The filly ran several comfortable quarters before peeling off a brilliant 26.1 second last 400 metres which meant she was never going to be caught.”

Winning driver Cameron Hart was full of praise for BEACH DIAMOND.

“She was awesome,” Hart said.

“She showed just how good she is being able to whip around them, find the front and control the race.

“The closing quarter was sizzling.

“I feel we were a little unlucky when second in the Victoria Oaks, so it was nice to get one for everyone tonight.

“It was a little bit of surprise we were able to find the front.

“I took a chance early when the pace was pretty sedate into the first quarter and IK knew she would quicken up sharply.

“It was a very good surprise to find the front end and control the race.

“Credit to the filly, she is push-button for me and whatever I ask her to do, she does.

“I am really looking forward to her four-year-old year.

“As you step up into the aged group mares her versatility is going to be a big factor.

“You can put her in the race, or you can sit her up ort as she showed tonight she can produce a 26.1 second quarter. I think she will take the step.”

BEACH DIAMOND is now likely to contest a heat of the $10,000 Nutrien Breeders Crown (2240m) for three-year-old fillies at Melton on Friday, December 5 leading into a Group 2 $100,000 Breeders Crown Final (2240m) at the same venue on Saturday, December 13.