Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 63873 Abr Weekend Review

If ever a horse deserved a win it was MRS PENNY CRACKER and Aaron Bain Racing was delighted for her ownership group to see her charge to victory at Sportsbet Gawler on Saturday.

Beautifully ridden by apprentice Taylor Johnstone, the five-year-old mare sprinted powerfully in the home straight to win easily.

Aaron Bain, principal of Aaron Bain Racing said MRS PENNY CRACKER was purchased with an eye to the future.

A well-bred daughter of stallion Winning Rupert, the mare has two wins and two seconds from her past four starts and importantly is now a metropolitan winner.

“MRS PENNY CRACKER is a mare we bought to breed from,” Bain said.

 “We leased her out to a good group of owners and were able to win a maiden, and now she is a metro winner.

“Hopefully there is another win or two in her before the next breeding season.”

Aaron Bain Racing has accepted with last-start winner FLIRT for the midweek race meeting in South Australia.

Originally due to be run on Wednesday, because of the extreme temperatures forecast, the meeting has been transferred to Friday when conditions are expected to be more pleasant.

FLIRT is engaged in race three, the Coopers Brewery Class One Handicap (1100m) at 4.40pm SA time.

She has drawn gate seven in a field of eight with Jason Holder to ride.

He was aboard FLIRT when the three-year-old filly led throughout over 1050m at Oakbank on December 19 to win her maiden.

ABR hopes the filly can make it two wins in a row.

 

Harness Racing

ABR’s quality mare Dreamalittledream defied an incredible betting drift to win the Ladbrokes Popular SRM Pace (1800m) at Globe Derby Park on Monday.

After opening at $1.80, the six-year-old mare had drifted to $2.90 when the mobile drew away at the start.

Punters preferred Nicely Spoken, from barrier one, which firmed from $4.20 into $2.50 favourite for trainer-driver Samantha Hill.

However, it was her husband Wayne Hill, driving Dreamalittledream for Gawler trainer Peter Bain, which dashed up the sprint lane to grab victory by a metre.

Nicely Spoken, which had led, held on for second, with Lochinvar Camaro ($51), 2-1/2 metres away third.

Aaron Bain, manager of ABR Bloodstock, the principal owner of Dreamalittledream, said the mare was capable of reaching fast class in South Australia.

“She has now won seven of her 10 starts since coming across from New Zealand,” Bain said.

“I thought her run in the recent Kevin & Kay Seymour Feature was very good.

“She had gate three on the second row, had to go back to the tail of the field, then got held up three times when making a run.

“She is not the type of mare where you can start and stop when making a run.

“Today’s race proved perfect for her.

“Coming from one of the second row, Wayne (Hill) was able to trail through and sit on the leader.

“There was a good speed contest for the early lead, then mid-race pressure up front and all the while Dreamalittledream was in a comfortable spot.

“When the sprint lane opened, she dashed through to win well.”

Bain said Dreamalittledream was a versatile mare.

“She has excellent gate speed if she draws the front and equally is just as good as a sit-sprinter.”

Weekend Star

ABR could not go past Mrs Penny Cracker as our weekend star.

Consistency was rewarded when Mrs Penny Cracker thrashed her rivals at the Gawler metropolitan meeting.

The five-year-old mare, trained by Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor sprinted away from the opposition to win the Gawler Arms Hotel Rating 62 Handicap (1707m).

Given a beautiful ride by Taylor Johnstone, Mrs Penny Cracker ($5) scoring by 2-1/4 lengths from Chur Nibble ($2.20 fav) with Back Me Up Benny ($31), 1-1/2 lengths away third.

The mare had no luck at her previous two runs which had resulted in close seconds. On Saturday, Johnstone had her in the running line, out of trouble and brought her up to challenge the leaders turning for home.

She raced away for a well-deserved metropolitan win.

Trainer Aaron Bain said Mrs Penny Cracker has continued to step up to her challenges.

“She has been a model of consistency for ABR,” Bain said.

“Perhaps the only question today was the step out to 1700 metres, but she has been attacking the line so well up to 1500 metres.

“On her breeding we thought she would be a 1400 metre horse but was able to step her up to 1500 last time and she attacked the line really well and today relished the 1700 metre trip.

“Taylor (Johnstone) said she is her fast little mare and loves her and they have a good association.

“The mare has a good turn of foot and wants to be at the races. She gives her everything.

Winning jockey Taylor Johnstone said Mrs Penny Cracker deserved the victory.

“It was great to get the win on this mare,” Johnstone said.

“She has been super consistent every time she steps out.

“She has improved every time she has gone to the races.

“It was really nice to see her run the 1700 (metres) out like she did.

“She got a lot of confidence from her maiden win at Mindarie Halidon and has continued to step up ever since.

“I get along really well with her – she is a great ride.

“Credit to the ABR team, they do a great job with their horses and present them in great order.

“It was a bit of a messy race early.

“You never want to be three wide but today I think it worked in our favour.

“We had heaps of cover and were able to pop out when we wanted to rather than being boxed in.

“She cruised up around the corner and had them covered at the finish.”