Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 65385 Blackjack

Blackjack paid the ultimate dividend with an all-the-way win at Mildura on Saturday, July 18 in the Mildura.com Three-Year-Old Maiden (1200m).

Having just his second run for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor, Blackjack ($2.05 fav) was perfectly rated by jockey Ryan Hurdle to score a long neck win from the fast-finishing Bold Jester ($2.40) with Hair Toss ($19), two lengths away third.

Hurdle made good use of barrier one on the three-year-old to push through the take the lead, despite receiving a little bit of pressure early, and controlled the tempo.

He asked Blackjack to extend turning for home and the gelding grabbed what proved to be a winning break.

The three-year-old was having just his second run for the trainers having been a good third first up on the Ballarat Synthetic on June 26.

Trainer Aaron Bain said it had been good to prepare another winner for Wayne Mitchell, owner of the Angaston Park complex where Blackjack was trained.

“This is the horse’s first preparation for Ned (Taylor) and myself, and he has come to hand nicely,” Bain said.

“I think he would be better ridden with a sit, but Ryan (Hurdle) did the right thing today taking up the speed and it proved a winning move.

“Blackjack contested some good quality races earlier in his career, but we are trying to just take him through his grades and let him reach his level.

“We believe he will be better over 1400 metres and will look to place him to advantage again.”

Winning jockey Ryan Hurdle said Blackjack was capable of going through his classes.

“It was a very pleasing result,” Hurdle said.

“It proved to be pretty straight forward.

“I was going to try and get cover early, but it was apparent they were going to go at a very sedate tempo.

“I just let him find his feet and he travelled nice throughout.

“He gave a really nice kick in the straight and found enough to hold them off.

“I think he has pretty of upside.”