aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 60560 High Garden

Promising mare High Garden had little more than a track gallop in landing some big bets breaking her maiden at Balaklava on Wednesday, December 4.

Backed from $2.50 into $1.55 favourite, High Garden cruised home a 2-1/2 length victor in the Adelaide Galvanising Maiden (1400m) ridden by Jason Holder for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor.

The four-year-old mare, owned by Pipeliner Bloodstock of Wayne Mitchell, beat Guru Warrior ($6.50) with Gold Spy ($3.90) a half-length away third.

The daughter of Nicconi jumped okay from barrier one and was able to have a good trail early.

Holder eased her away from the inside to challenge 500 metres from home before asking her to really extend at the 200-metre mark which she did and win untouched.

Trainer Aaron Bain was delighted with the ease of High Garden’s win.

“She won untouched,” Bain said, “It was also a great ride by ‘Stubby’ (Jason Holder).

“She has had a tendency to be a bit slow out, but Jason has a good relationship with these type of horses.

“Everglade was the same when she came to us, a bit tardy away.

“We were a bit wary today, from the inside, she was going to wind up three pairs back on the fence.

“He quickly checked off heels when they settled and just had nice galloping room the whole way.

“Owner Wayne Mitchell is a massive owner for us, the same as he is to Tony & Calvin McEvoy, but he has also done an unbelievable job with the property Angaston Park bringing it back to life.

“We are still pinching ourselves having the opportunity to train there. I think Wayne will be at home today watching it and Barend (Vorster) was going around to keep him company.

“Wayne has been branded a bit of a bad luck omen when he goes on course, so he prefers to sit home and watch them in his bar at Angaston, or at Airlie Beach in Queensland.”

Bain said Mitchell would be extremely happy with the mare’s win.

“Wayne has always had a bit of opinion of her and believed she could get over a bit of a trip.

“When we started at Angaston Park on July 1 High Garden was in a spelling paddock and he said to put her in work and give her a prep.

“He gave us one rule – don’t kick her off first up over 1000 metres or less.

“We sent her around over 1100 metres and that was short enough, and he is keen to get her out to 1600 metres so today’s win at 1400 would make him happy.”

Winning jockey Jason Holder said it had been a comfortable win by High Garden.

“Aaron and Ned placed this mare beautiful today,” Holder said.

“She ran good first up and improved today.

“I was instructed to be as positive as I could because she can be a bit slow out and not show much early speed.

“When she jumped okay, I gave her a kick and she responded well.”