Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 64256 Abr Weekend Preview

South Australian racing steps up a level on Saturday with Group and Listed racing and Aaron Bain Racing hopes to be a player in the better races as the meetings continue over the next few months.

Aaron Bain Racing goes racing at Morphettville on Saturday then Balaklava on Sunday.

At headquarters, ABR has two acceptors.

FOLLOWING SEA resumes in race four, the Michael and Virginia Wedding Anniversary Handicap (1522m) at 2.12 pm SA time.

The five-year-old has drawn barrier two in an acceptance of 15 with two emergencies and Todd Pannell has been engaged.

The gelding has not raced since August but has had two nice trials at Gawler and Murray Bridge to have him ready for a race return.

ABR would expect him to have as good preparation and hopefully be competitive.

FOLLOWING SEA opened at $18 in early markets behind the favourite Ronny Bee at $2.70. Built in action packed fluctuations, he has eased to $23 while the favourite has firmed into $2.

ABR’s other runner on Saturday is LITTLEBOURKESTREET in race six, the Daniel ‘Mini’ Balfour Memorial Handicap (1050m) at 3.22pm SA time.

LITTLEBOURKESTREET has come up with gate five in an acceptance of 15 with Jason Holder booked to ride.

The four-year-old mare was placed three times for ABR last preparation and has not raced since September.

Jason Holder was aboard LITTLEBOURKESTREET in a soft trial at Murray Bridge earlier in the month.

The mare has a win and second from three first up runs so ABR would hope she can run well on Saturday.

LITTLEBOURKESTREET opened at $8 and has eased to $9 in a wide open betting race with the favourite Blanc Visage firming from $6 into $4.80.

ABR has two acceptors at Balaklava on Sunday.

WOODSTOCK steps out in race five, the Happy 50^th Jon G Three-Year-Old Maiden (1050m) at 3.18pm SA time.

The three-year-old has drawn barrier five in a field of 12 with Connor Murtagh to ride.

WOODSTOCK disappointed when resuming fading late over 1200m at Morphettville on January 31.

He had trialled well twice leading up to that run and ABR would expect him to improve sharply on Sunday.

TERRITORIAN is ABR’s other runner for Grand Syndicates in race eight the BTR Excavations Benchmark 56 Handicap (1300m) at 5.10pm SA time.

The four-year-old has drawn gate seven in a field of 16 with Jason Holder to ride.

The gelding has not had much luck in his two runs from a break and Sunday’s race looks ideal for him to step up.

At his last run, TERRITORIAN had gate one at Gawler when the inside of the track was off and horses needed to be towards the middle of the track. To be beaten less than two lengths was an excellent effort.

Harness Racing

Just the one ABR runner at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

Classy mare NAROBI lines up in race four the Ladbrokes Yorke Peninsula HRC Cup heat one (1800m) at 9.02pm SA time.

She has drawn gate two in a small acceptance of five.

ABR welcomes back champion driver Wayne Hill from injury, and he will be in the sulky.

NAROBI sat outside the hot favourite Centrefold Star at her last run and proved too strong with Bernadette Page in the sulky.

She has won two of her last three starts and ABR hopes she can chalk up another victory.

Overseas, ABR was extremely happy to have our inaugural Horse Of The Year, SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS return to the winner’s list in the United States last week.

Running at the famed Meadowlands track in New Jersey, SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS sat behind the speed early in a Horse & Geldings Rating 80.5 Pace (1600m) before peeling off a last quarter of 27.1 seconds to win comfortably rating 1:51.2.

Trained by Australian Shane Tritton and driven by his wife Lauren, it was great to have our $1 million pacer back to form and hopefully he can keep stepping up and showing his ability in the US.