Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63780 Abr Weekend Review 24 Dec 2025

Aaron Bain Racing wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope Santa arrives bearing gifts and Thursday is a day to eat, drink (in moderation) and be merry.

It may be holiday time for many but not for ABR with a host of meetings where we hope to have some joy.

An excellent lead in to Christmas week with a winning double at the Sportsbet Oakbank Christmas twilight meeting last Friday with FLIRT and OH LOVEY NO winning in consecutive races for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor.

The trainers pulled the right rein when opting to run FLIRT at Oakbank.

The three-year-old filly was also an acceptor at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on the following day, but the trainers decided to run her in the Stateliner Coaches Maiden (1050m) at the course of natural history.

Flirt ($3.50 fav) began well from, gate six and jockey Jason Holder allowed her to stride to the lead coming down the hill.

At the 200-metre mark, Tiddy Widdy ($5.50) moved up to challenge, but the ABR filly responded and drew clear to win by three-quarters of a length. Roomerhasit ($101) was two lengths away third.

Trainer Aaron Bain said FLIRT had grown and matured since her last run as a two-year-old.

“It was a lovely win first up from a nice break,” Bain said.

“A lot of new owners on board with us through the Club Sports Group, their first win in the colours as well.

“FLIRT did us proud today.”

Winning jockey Jason Holder was not surprised by FLIRT’S victory.

“She had been trialling well and brought that to the races today,” Holder said.

“I thought that was all she had to do. I was positive, went forward and dictated the race.

“What I liked about her was that she heard a challenge and when I asked her, she responded.

“I think she has a lot of upside.”

Strong staying mare OH LOVEY NO produced a powerful finish to grab victory in the Emmetts Plate (2150m) at the Christmas twilight meeting at Sportsbet Oakbank.

Read more in the ABR Weekend Star item.

Saturday saw HILLTOP BLOSSOM take out the Listed Southern Cross Final for two-year-old fillies, trained by Emma Stewart, driven by Wayne Hill and owned and bred by Val Bain.

At Albion Park, IMA QUEEN BEE came from an awkward draw to win a Mares Band 5 Pace for trainer Chantal Turpin and driver Pete McMullen, rating an excellent 1:51.8.

No runners for ABR before Christmas Day.

LADY SKYLLA accepted at Strathalbyn, but trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor felt the draw was against her so she was scratched and will accept at Naracoorte on Sunday.

Weekend star

OH LOVEY NO was named our Weekend Star following her last-to-first victory at Sportsbet Oakbank.

Her win gave trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor a running double as they prepared FLIRT in the Stateline Coaches Maiden.

Whereas FLIRT led throughout, OH LOVEY NO came from last with a typical strong staying effort.

Trainer Aaron Bain said connections collected nearly $20,000 in stakes and Racing Rewards bonuses for winning a provincial Class One Handicap.

“OH LOVEY NO has done a good job since coming into the stable.

“The win today takes her stakes to more than $70,000 in prizemoney and Racing Rewards bonuses,” Bain said.

“She has had two wins, four seconds and a third from her last seven runs for us.

“Today was a typical staying performance and she was strong through the line.

“We will be looking to eventually try to find a suitable metro race for her going forward.

“Even though she is five, the mare is still lightly raced and Ned and I believe she will continue to improve with age and experience.”

Easy in betting drifting from $2.70 to $4.40, the five-year-old mare won by a long neck from Youbeeforty ($4.80) with Fiora Blue ($7), a length away third.

Rider Matthew Chadwick, who has built up a good record on the winner, allowed her to settle last in the field of seven and didn’t really start asking her to lengthen until the home straight.

It took OH LOVEY NO a while to gather momentum, but she hit overdrive over the final 200 metres and arrived in time to gather victory.

Winning jockey Matthew Chadwick said OH LOVEY NO had been strong through the line.

“Because I know her, I didn’t get flustered when we were still last coming down the hill,” Chadwick said.

“With a long straight at Oakbank I knew she would gather momentum and be hard to hold off and so it proved.

“Her last 200 metres was very good and I’m she can continue to stand up in staying races.”