aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 60606 Abr Weekend Preview

The festive season lifts the intensity for everyone and ABR is no different.

ABR will have runners at the thoroughbred meetings in South Australia this weekend and look forward to having our team proving competitive in their assignments.

Our day starts on Friday at the twilight Morphettville meeting.

Just the one runner with MERCHELLE making her debut for ABR in race four, the Hahn Fillies & Mares Rating 0-62 Handicap (1200m).

Manoel Nunes will ride the five-year-old mare formerly trained by Mark & Levi Kavanagh and jumps from barrier three in a field of eight.

MERCHELLE has won two of her 18 starts and had two nice trials at Balaklava and Oakbank to ready her for Friday.

Also on Friday, ABR looks forward to the improving two-year-old CAPTAIN PERFECT stepping out at Melton in Victoria.

He comes from gate three in race six, the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Homegrown Classic (1720m), heat one for two-year-old colts & geldings at 3.43pm SA time.

Trained by Emma Stewart, and to be driven by Mark Pitt, CAPTAIN PERFECT was an excellent second at his most recent run at Melton and should be further improved, and at worst, qualifying for the $25,000 final on Saturday, December 21.  

Trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor head to Gawler’s Saturday metropolitan meeting with six runners on the nine-race program.

MIDNIGHT MASS steps out in race one, the Coopers Brewery Handicap (2100m) at 12.27pm SA time.

After excellent seconds at his past three runs, the gelding steps out to the trip for the first time coming from barrier three in a field of eight with apprentice Rochelle Milnes to ride and claim 2kg.

MIDNIGHT MASS looks very well placed and should be very competitive.

The TAB opened MIDNIGHT MASS as the $2 favourite and hopefully he lives up to that rating.

The trainers scratched BELLEZZE from Strathalbyn on Wednesday to line up at Gawler in race two, the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Maiden (1500m) at 1.02pm SA time.

She has drawn gate nine in a field of 13 and will be ridden by Kayla Crowther.

BELLEZZE has improved with racing and the step out to 1500 metres around her home track should be ideal.

Punters pushed her opening price in from $8 to $7 with the TAB behind the heavily backed Guru Warrior which has firmed from $4.60 into $3.10 favourite.

ABR stable favourite WONDERWOMEN returns to the track in race four, the Holdfast Insurance Brokers Handicap (1200m) at 2.12pm SA time.

She has drawn barrier one in a field of nine with Jason Holder to ride.

WONDERWOMEN has had two runs from a break and should improve with the increase in distance around her home track where she is a winner from her only run at the track and trip.

Punters believe she can improve and snapped up the early price of $15 and WONDERWOMEN is now at $8 with the popular elect Wiggum at $4.

REFRESHING has her first start for ABR in race six, the Contract Engineering Handicap (1100m) at 3.27pm SA time.

The five-year-old mare, formerly trained by Michael Moroney, has had two trials to ready for a racing return.

She will jump from barrier two in a field of nine with Jason Holder to ride.

A winner of three of her 18 starts, REFRESHING has been placed once first-up from four previous campaigns.   

After opening at $6, the mare quickly eased to $14 with the TAB with Deepfloat Diva at the head of the market at $3.10.

Another scratched from Strathalbyn, EL CAPONY lines up in race eight, the Crane Services Handicap (1200m) at 4.42pm SA time.

Jason Holder is in the pigskin from gate three in a field of 13.

The five-year-old mare has had two trials for her race return but runs into some stiff opposition.

She is a $10 chance with the TAB. Unbeaten Eroica is favourite at $3.20.

ABR finishes in race nine, the Bronwen Darrall Memorial Handicap (1500m), at 5.30pm SA time with METRICAL.

An outstanding second at Strathalbyn at his most recent run, METRICAL has drawn gate 13 in a field of 15 with Jason Holder to ride.

The five-year-old has run well at all three runs for ABR and should be finishing powerfully.

METRICAL was popular with early punters firming from $8 into $5 favourite in an open betting race.

On the harness front on Saturday, ABR has the talented trotter PARISIAN ARTISTE in the $150,000 Group 1 Inter Dominion Trotters Final (2300m) at 8.25pm SA time.

Trained by Alex Ashwood, and to be driven by Tayla French, he has drawn gate 12 and will need to have a lot of luck to win but ABR is sure can run well.

PARISIAN ARTISTE is quoted at $10 behind the $1.65 favourite The Locomotive.

ABR was going to have runners at the Bordertown meeting on Sunday, but that program has been changed to next Tuesday because of the extreme heat forecast.

ABR News

MIGHTY SAPPHIRE

Disappointing news regarding the talented MIGHTY SAPPHIRE.

A close examination has revealed a small hole in a tendon which explains his slight drop off in trackwork.

So he will be off the scene for rehab, but it is fortunate the injury was discovered in the very early stages.

He will have box rest in the coming weeks with treatment to start in a few weeks.

MIGHTY SAPPHIRE has been a good buy for his owners with three wins from 10 starts along with a second, third and fourth.

ABR will be hoping to have a return to racing towards the end of next year.

GALA DINNER

Which of Aaron Bain Racing’s stars will be named as 2024 Horse Of The Year?

Million-dollar pacer Spirit Of St Louis was the inaugural winner in 2023.

Will the winner be a thoroughbred or standardbred?

Find out at the social event for 2025 at the ABR Gala Dinner.

Next year’s event will be held at the glamorous Wolf Blass ‘The Man’ Event Centre at the Morphettville racecourse on Friday, February 7.

Noted broadcaster Terry McAuliffe will again be the compere and a special guest will be announced in coming weeks.

ABR prides itself on inviting exciting guests with triple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss the first, then this year’s Cup winning hoop, Robbie Dolan last year who entertained us with his dulcet tones.

Tickets are $175-per-person which includes a two-course meal with canapes on arrival, and a four-hour drink package.

ABR’s Recognition awards will also be announced.

Get your booking in early, or perhaps organise a table. It is certainly a night not to be missed.

Book here: https://www.aaronbainracing.com.au/events/176/abr-gala-dinner-2025