Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 64585 Thundara

A long-range plan by Aaron Bain Racing to strongly feature in the South Australian autumn carnival remains on track following the game win by Thundara at Balaklava on Wednesday, April 1.

Thundara had to fight hard to grab a photo-finish win in the Sportsbet Racing Form Maiden (1600m).

A red hot $1.60 favourite, the former New Zealand three-year-old filly won by a head from Let It Ride ($12) with Jumbo Jet ($3.2), two lengths away third.

Trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor intend to now start Thundara in the $150,000 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on Saturday, April 11 then hopefully on to the Group One $1 million Australasian Oaks (2000m) at the same track on April 25.

Purchased from New Zealand after one run, the filly had two runs over unsuitable trips before stepping up to 1600 metres at Balaklava where she was expected to show her staying ability.

The race didn’t develop into what was expected but Thundara definitely proved she has staying potential and a definite will-to-win.

Jockey Rochelle Milnes had hoped to lead on Thundara, but the filly was attacked early and eventually settled third on the fence.

The filly came one wide turning for home and quickly moved up to challenge for the lead.

Thundara beat off several challengers but then the runner up moved alongside and they went stride-for-stride over the final 100 metres. Despite being dwarfed, the ABR filly refused to yield and prevailed in a tough win.

Trainer Aaron Bain was relieved Thundara had broken through for her initial success.

“I was nervous, but she won,” Bain said.

“She is going to need further again, and she will go to the Auraria at 1800 (metres) provided she pulls up well.

“Hopefully, she relishes that and the 2000 (metres) thereafter.

“She had a lot of courage today. Credit to her, she had to dig deep to win, you want to see that in any horse you are training.

“Thundara definitely put her head out to win, she could have quite easily carved it up and finished third or fourth, but she wanted to win.

“She has only had four career runs and is a horse we know will get better over further.

“She showed that today and was doing her best work on the line and we think she is a promising horse for us for seasons to come.”

Bain said Thundara was one of about eight horses Aaron Bain Racing had purchased from New Zealand.

“We wanted to go after two, three and four-year-olds ready to run and she was one of our purchases.

“We wanted a marquee horse for the South Australian carnival. Although she has taken three starts to win, to score third up at 1600 metres was part of the plan.

“Provided she stays on track hopefully she will be competitive in the Oaks.”

Winning jockey Rochelle Milnes said Thundara had fought on strongly when challenged over the final stages.

“The plan was to lead, and she stepped away okay, but another runner was adamant to lead from an outside gate.

“In the end I had to hand up and get her into a comfortable rhythm, then hopefully get a run in the home straight and be stronger to the line.

“I had a beautiful run of the race but probably not where I wanted to be rather dictating to them.

“It was a bit nerve wracking to the line, but Thundara found enough to win.

“Her fight was a credit to the filly.”