Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 64004 Abr Weekend Review

What a fabulous weekend for Aaron Bain Racing with the special win by ZOUWIN at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Saturday.

The first two-year-old runner for ABR this season, ZOUWIN led throughout in a courageous performance.

Trainer Aaron Bain said the filly had had a quiet week at Angaston Park following her victory and a decision on her immediate future would be made at the end of the week.

Read more of the win in ABR’s Weekend Star.

Busy weekend for ABR trainer Ned Taylor and Will O’Malley, High Performance & Racing Manager as they are heading to the Karaka Yearling Sales in New Zealand.

So keep watching the ABR socials for the opportunity to become involved with any of our new yearling purchases.

On Monday, ABR had a team of five trial at Murray Bridge, and we are looking forward to having a few runners at Morphettville on Saturday.

Just the one runner, TERRITORIAN, at Wednesday’s twilight meeting at Oakbank.

And we have to wait until the final event, race seven, the Coopers Brewery Benchmark 56 Handicap (1050m) at 6.10pm SA time.

A Grand Syndicates runner, TERRITORIAN has drawn barrier one in an acceptance of 19 with three emergencies, one of which has already been scratched.

Heavyweight jockey Campbell Rawiller has the ride, and the gelding is weighted on 61kg.

The four-year-old has not raced since finishing fourth at Mildura on August 9.

He has had two trials to ready him for a racing return, the most recent a win at Gawler on January 6 over 1000m.’

ABR would expect TERRITORIAN to be competitive on Wednesday.

 

Harness Racing

ABR wishes our stable driver and valued employee Wayne Hill a speedy recovery after his fall at Globe Derby Park on Monday.

Driving the ABR’s POPPY LANE, Hill tried valiantly to get her into a pace after she broke soon after the start in race two but crashed to the track suffering two fractures in his pelvis.

He is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

Wayne lives life flat out so ABR is not sure how he will handle having to sit still for an extended period of time. Probably we should spare a thought for wife Sam, having to put up with him.

Weekend Star

No prizes for guessing ZOUWIN as ABR’s Weekend star.

The two-year-old filly was superb winning on race debut at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge.

To lead throughout at her first race start around the spacious circuit, and survive a late challenge, was outstanding.

Tears flowed with the victory as ZOUWIN was the first thoroughbred runner for ABR since the passing of family matriarch Val Bain, 86, on Monday evening following a short illness.

For trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor, it was special as the filly was first two-year-old runner for the 2025-26 racing season.

ZOUWIN was cheered home on course by more than 40 of her owners as she led throughout in the Bryan Guy Memorial Plate (1000m).

Despite coming from the outside gate in a field of seven, the daughter of Zousain flew the gates to lead easily, then showed great heart to stall off the challengers.

Ridden by Taylor Johnstone, ZOUWIN, well backed at $2.70, scored by a head from Verzain ($8) with Image Artist ($21), 1-3/4 lengths away third.

Just a $36,000 purchase, the filly collected $35,000 for the win along with a $21,120 Racing Rewards SA bonus.

Trainer Aaron Bain acknowledged the importance of ZOUWIN’s victory.

“We lost my Dad’s (Peter) mum (Val) early in the week and it has been a tough week,” Bain said.

“She loved her racing and would have put a circle around this filly today in the paper – that was her first job in the morning.

“This was our first thoroughbred runner since, and it has made me sad.

“She was 86-years-old, the matriarch and where ABR started and she is watching from above today.

“ZOUWIN was in front for a long time and I think Nanny sooled her home.

“A big credit to Ned (Taylor) and the team at home,” Bain said.

“At Angaston Park, we’ve got a 500-metre jump out chute at the bottom of the hill, and it has been famous for young horses over the years.

“It was part of our plan going there and she is one of 42 two-year-olds in training and the first we have stepped out this season.

“It is a big win for Ned, the team and myself and for the support Wayne Mitchell has thrown behind us on his property.”

Bain paid tribute to the support of ZOUWIN’s ownership group.

“I put out an audio to do lunch as it was our first two-year-old runner for the season and thought I would get one table of 10 but we ended up with four tables – a great result and now we can celebrate.”

“It is only ZOUWIN’s first full preparation since being broken in.

“After the sales she was in for three weeks, out for a month, in for three weeks, out for about six weeks and this is really only her first full prep.

“She was going to the paddock last Friday as we thought she was a bit shin sore, but she had just knocked her leg.

“She galloped well on the weekend and again through the week.

“We tried to run her five weeks ago, but the race fell away and we were waiting and waiting.

“We were going to run last week but we pulled out, and the race fell over and here we are today.”

Winning jockey Taylor Johnstone was full of praise for ZOUWIN.

“It was very exciting for a large group of owners to have a win with her today,” Johnstone said.

“Her early speed shocked me a little bit.

“I knew she was quick out of the gates but didn’t expect that.

“Aaron said to just go with her and she got across easily.

“To her credit, she has done a massive job – to be in front that long way out and to keep kicking.

“When that horse caught up, she fought on to the line.”

Johnstone said she had ridden ZOUWIN last year.

“I did a jump out on her early days.

“Aaron and Ned have done a massive job with her – they are great supporters on mine, and it is much appreciated.”