The win of DAMAGED at Strathalbyn on Sunday continued the positive start to 2025 for Aaron Bain Racing.
It was our fourth winner for the month, but ABR is pleased for the consistency with eight placegetters as well.
It could have been five wins with NAVY GOLD a certainty beaten at Murray Bridge on Friday when a fast-closing second while MIDNIGHT MASS again stepped up with an excellent third in the Strathalbyn Cup on Sunday &ndash; his fourth placing in a feature race this campaign.
ABR is looking to finish the month strongly with two runners at the Morphettville Parks meeting on Wednesday.
PACIFIC JEWEL has her first run for ABR in race three, the Hahn Fillies &amp; Mares Maiden (1000m) at 2.50pm SA time.
The former WA mare was an acceptor at both Murray Bridge on Friday and Strathalbyn on Sunday, but trainers Aaron Bain &amp; Ned Taylor opted to keep her for Wednesday, and she looks to be in a winnable race.
Apprentice Brooke King has been booked to ride and claim 2kg offer her weight of 57.5kg which means she will carry .5kg under the minimum.
PACIFIC JEWEL has drawn barrier eight in a field of 12.
King rode the four-year-old mare in a trial at Oakbank on December 24 when she finished second.
PACIFIC JEWEL had two runs in WA last year finishing sixth each time but not beaten far on either occasion and ABR is confident she can run boldly on Wednesday.
ALFANO is our other runner at the Parks starting in race seven, the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Rating 0-56 Handicap (1250m) at 5.10pm SA time.
Again, the trainers opted to miss Strathalbyn on Sunday to wait for Morphettville Parks.
Top jockey Jason Holder will ride ALFANO which has drawn gate four in a field of 14 which includes four emergencies.
Holder rode the six-year-old when first up over 1200 metre at Strathalbyn on December 27, running home strongly to finish third.
With a month between runs, ALFANO has worked well and looks perfectly placed to prove most competitive.
ABR is back at Strathalbyn on Tuesday for a set of barrier trials where we step out our recent purchase DUAL PRESSURE among a team of nine.
A three-time winner from just 18 starts, the four-year-old was purchased online from the stables of recently retired trainer Matthew Ellerton.
He has been placed twice at Flemington and looks an excellent purchase to race in South Australia.
Jason Holder will ride DUAL PRESSURE in what looks a competitive trial field and will give us a great guide to his readiness to go to the races.
Also in the trial is a former Singapore galloper, GHALIB, which will trial under its Australian name of EPONYMOUS and will be ridden by Manoel Nunes.
The five-year-old boasts good form in Singapore and was third behind the champion Lim&rsquo;s Kosciuszko and Golden Monkey in the Lion City Gold Cup in July last year.
ABR is excited to see how he measures up in SA.
Another ex-Singapore galloper to trial is ASIF which will also gallop under its Australian name of SACRIMONY.
He is a last-start winner in Singapore in September last year when ridden by Manoel Nunes who will be aboard in the trial.
Also in that trial is the smart mare EVERGLADE who has done a wonderful job since joining ABR. Jason Holder will ride.
In a busy day, DUBAI FOCUS will also trial with Jason Holder aboard.
Another newcomer to ABR is BUCKINGHAM PALACE, formerly with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, which will step out in a 1000 metre trial.
LONG LOST COUSIN, REIBY PRINCESS and THERE GOES MY HERO complete the ABR trial group.
After the trials, a third ex-Singapore galloper BAKEEL will have a private gallop.
All three Singapore horses are in the process of having their names registered as they were in the now closed jurisdiction.
A busy trial session with some nice gallopers stepping out. 
WEEKEND STAR
 
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_UmlGTC-N-k" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> What a ride by Jason Holder to land DAMAGED a narrow winner at Strathalbyn on Sunday &ndash; they are both ABR&rsquo;s stars of the weekend.
Holder timed his run on Damaged ($7) to perfection to grab a short half head verdict from Suzido ($3.90 fav) with Justica&rsquo;s Bonus ($8.50), 2-1/4 lengths away third in the Nostradamus Standing At Springfield Farm Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
Originally trained by James Cummings, then spending time with Richard Litt, the seven-year-old has now won two of his six starts since being purchased online last year and joining trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor.
From gate two at Strathalbyn, Holder was able to settle the gelding on the fence behind the leaders before angling him away from the inside in the home straight.
Suzido was being hailed the winner at the 200m mark, but Holder had other ideas riding hard and Damaged sprinted powerfully to grab a last-stride win.
Trainer Aaron Bain said the owners deserved a big &lsquo;thank you&rsquo; for their patience with Damaged.
&ldquo;Unfortunately, he bled last preparation and had to have a three-month spell,&rdquo; Bain said.
&ldquo;Being an older horse with issues and having to take a three month break it would have been easy for the owners to cash in, but credit to them, they were happy to go on and today is their reward.
&ldquo;One owner in particular is Mark Belcher from Sydney. He was in Damaged when the horse went up for sale and was actually the underbidder.
&ldquo;Mark was quickly on the phone and more than happy to buy a half-share of the horse and that is why he races in Mark&rsquo;s colours.
&ldquo;As an older horse, Damaged has his own problems, but as he showed today, has a real will-to-win.
Winning jockey Jason Holder said Damaged had won well.
&ldquo;He has been working well and brought it to the races today,&rdquo; Holder said.
&ldquo;We had a lovely run in transit.
&ldquo;When I brought him out (in the home straight) I thought we were going to win easier, but he did get there.&rdquo;

Aaron Bain Racing

Weekend Review

Aaron Bain

Damaged

Im themightylucy Reitres

Aaron Bain Racing, with wins at Oakbank and Murray Bridge earlier this month, will be active on two of the three days of the Australia Day weekend.
The talented NAVY GOLD is our runner at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Friday. We have to wait until the final event, race nine, the Magic Millions Raceday Saturday 8th of March Rating 0-56 (1400m) at 6.53pm SA time.
&nbsp;Star jockey Manoel Nunes will ride the four-year-old which has drawn barrier 11 in a field of 15 with one emergency.
NAVY GOLD ran on well late when first up over 1430 metres at Naracoorte first up from a spell on January 5.
Trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor have kept him fresh to run Saturday where the long home straight at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge should suit him ideally.
He is a second-up winner previously and ABR would expect him to run well.
Sunday sees the Strathalbyn Cup meeting where ABR has five acceptors.
PACIFIC JEWEL is an acceptor in race one, the Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Maiden (1200m) at 12.35pm SA time.
Kayla Crowther has been engaged to ride and the mare has drawn barrier 12 in a field of 15 with one emergency but already there has been one scratching from the main field.
ABR will leave it late, but we are not keen to run from a wide draw at Strathalbyn. She also will be an acceptor for Morphettville Parks on Wednesday.&nbsp;
ABR has two runners in race six, the Nostradamus Standing at Springfield Farm Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) at 3.35pm SA time. It is a field of 18 with four emergencies.
DAMAGED has drawn barrier two with Jason Holder to ride.
The seven-year-old hasn&rsquo;t raced since July but has trialled well at Oakbank and has a good first up record.
ALFANO will start from barrier five with in-form apprentice Taylor Johnstone to ride and claim 1.5kg.
The gelding was an excellent first-up third over 1200 metres at Strathalbyn on December 27 and has been kept fresh for Sunday.
Both ABR runners look well placed and should be competitive.
After three feature race seconds, MIDNIGHT MASS gets his chance for a major race victory in the Adelaide Galvanising Industries Strathalbyn Cup (2050m), race seven at 4.05pm SA time.
MIDNIGHT MASS, to be ridden by Jason Holder, has drawn gate one in a field of 14, with one emergency, and already there has been a scratching.
With seconds in the Gawler Cup, John Letts Cup and Happy Trails Final before another second in a benchmark 78 at Gawler, the former New Zealander deserves another win.
The six-year-old is yet to race at Strathalbyn but has trialled twice around the tricky circuit with no issues.
ABR is confident MIDNIGHT MASS can again feature prominently in the finish.
SHOOTOOSE rounds off ABR&rsquo;s day in the final event, race eight, the Mahindra Adelaide City Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m), at 4.40pm SA time.
He has drawn well in gate two in a field of 17, with one emergency, and Jason Holder in the saddle.
The six-year-old was narrowly beaten at Bordertown over 1200 metres at his last start on December 17.
&nbsp;SHOOTOOSE won his maiden over 1300 metres at Cranbourne to the extra trip on Sunday will prove no problem.
Expect him to run well with his good draw. &nbsp;&nbsp;
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 ABR retirement
ABR says &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; to one of our star pacers which has been retired.
Unfortunately, injuries have brought an end to the racing career of the classy IM THEMIGHTYLUCY.
Purchased from New Zealand, IM THEMIGHTYLUCY was a diminutive mare with a fantastic sprint.
She had her first start for ABR in the 2022 SA Derby before heading to Western Australia where she six of her first eight starts for trainer Michael Young.
The mare came back to trainer Aaron Bain in early 2024 and she won four in a row including two in Tasmania including the feature Tasracing Leigh Plunkett.
Beautifully bred, IM THEMIGHTYLUCY will be mated with champion sire Rock N Roll Heaven which stands at Alabar Stud in Victoria.
Rock N Roll Heaven is the sire of star pacers Swayzee, Let It Ride, Expensive Ego and A G&rsquo;s White Sock. Of interest, Let It Ride is out of a Bettors Delight mare as is IM THEMIGHTYLUCY.
ABR can&rsquo;t wait to see the foal of one of our favourite mares.

ABR Weekend Preview

There is no doubting the talent of ABR&rsquo;s EL CAPONY, a narrow winner at Thomas Farms Murray Bridge on Saturday.
Despite wanting to hang in over the final stages, the five-year-old mare prevailed in a close photo.
There are certainly more wins in store if she learns to race more tractably.
With racing at Port Lincoln on Wednesday there are no runners for co-trainers Aaron Bain &amp; Ned Taylor.
It was decided to transfer SOLAR MIST into the care of Jackie Stoetzer who has been looking after him since ABR sent him to the &ldquo;Crayfish Coast.&rdquo;
SOLAR MIST goes around in race nine on Wednesday, the Prawn Store Four-Year-Old &amp; Up Benchmark 60 Handicap (1210m) at 4.35pm SA time.
The grey will again be ridden by Rochelle Milnes and comes from gate nine an acceptance of 15 with three emergencies.
Still a busy time for ABR, on Sunday, trainer Aaron Bain trialled many of our star three-year-olds along with the two-year-olds looking to measure up in 2025.
ABR was super happy with the trials of MISS DISTURBIA, IVESEENHEAVENSLIGHT, BEACH DIAMOND and MISS AUSTRALIANA.
Exciting times at Morphettville on Tuesday when ABR took three of our-two-year-olds to the jump outs as the next part of their journey.
On Sunday, trainer Aaron Bain was also named as the leading trainer at the Port Pirie Harness Racing Club for season 2024.&nbsp;
WEEKEND STAR 
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EL CAPONY won her first race for Aaron Bain Racing at the metropolitan Murray Bridge meeting.
Trained by Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor, EL CAPONY scored a short half head win in the SpryCrete Handicap (1200m), a benchmark 66 event.
Ridden by Manoel Nunes, the five-year-old mare, a $4.20 chance, held off Holmes ($14) with Lucky Fortuna ($11), a long neck away third.
EL CAPONY began nicely but settled in midfield before being asked to improve turning for home.
Nunes switched his whip into his left hand to try and keep the mare straight in the run to the finish.
She always looked likely to win but had to withstand a late dive by the runner up.
Trainer Aaron Bain said El Capony had been hard work but deserved her victory.
&ldquo;We have had a few headaches with her,&rdquo; Bain said.
&ldquo;She has been a bit of a handful at home and really tested us.
&ldquo;Last start she loomed to win well but could only finish fourth. In her defence, she pulled a shoe with 150 metres to go.
&ldquo;She has been a work in progress, providing Ned and I and the owners a lot of challenges.
&ldquo;Today is a great reward for the patience of the owners.
&ldquo;She certainly was deserving of winning a metro race.&rdquo;

ABR Weekend Review

El Capony wins

Wonderwomen Retirement

The round of yearling sales began with the famous Magic Millions Yearling Sales on the Gold Coast last week and, for the first time, Aaron Bain Racing was an active participant.
ABR purchased two yearlings and hopes to become even more involved next year.
Our first purchase cost $100,000 and was a filly by sought after stallion Farnan out of the Encosta de Lago mare Forever Crazy, a six-race winner from 1350 metres to 1900 metres.
In the breeding barn she has produced the stakes winner Flying Crazy, by Flying Artie.
The filly is from the family of the current quality sprinter Arkansas Kid and also the good Queensland winner Garibaldi.
Aaron Bain, and Barend Vorster were at the Gold Coast sales complex early this week inspecting yearlings which were being offered in the Book Two section and struck again.
ABR paid $36,000 for a colt by D&rsquo;Argento, a son of the champion racehorse and sire So You Think, from the unraced Snitzel mare Genie.
The dam is out of the stake winner Indarra who has produced two winners and is from the family of stakes winner Holy Moly and stakes placed Xlerate.
The sire, D&rsquo;Argento, was a Group 1 winner of the Rosehill Guineas and ran second in the Epsom Handicap during his race career of four wins from 1200 metres to 2100 metres.
His oldest progeny are three-year-olds but already he has been able to sire several stakes placed runners.
The growth of ABR will see the business active at all the yearling sales, but especially the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale over the next few months searching for future stars.
Keep a close check on the ABR website for opportunities to join the ride and #experiencetheTHRILL.
ABR will head to the South-East town of Penola on Friday with two runners.
OVEREXTEND steps out in race six the Riddoch Coonawarra Benchmark 68 (1075m) at 3.20pm SA time.
Apprentice Brooke King will ride and claim 2kg drawing barrier 10 in a field of 13 with three emergencies.
OVEREXTEND has raced since running unplaced at Morphettville on August 10 but has trialled nicely at Strathalbyn and Oakbank to ready him for a race return.
Brooke King will also ride ABR&rsquo;s other runner BULLET WING in race eight, the Bull Bros / Hallett Concrete Benchmark 66 Handicap (1400m) at 4.40pm SA time.
BULLET WING has drawn gate seven in a field of 13 with one emergency.
The six-year-old found the 1000 metres too short when making a debut for ABR at Morphettville on December 7 and looks much better placed at Penola.
On Saturday, ABR will take another two to the Thomas Farms Murray Bridge meeting.
METRO LEGEND is our first runner in race five, the Carlton Draught Handicap (1100m) at 2.47pm SA time.
Apprentice Taylor Johnstone will ride and claim 2kg and the gelding will start from barrier five in a field of 10.
Johnstone rode the seven-year-old when he was a good third over 1200 metres at Murray Bridge on January 4.
Expect METRO LEGEND to prove very competitive again.
Punters agree and he has been backed from an opening price of $8 with the TAB to currently be a $4.80 chance with the favourite Quanah at $3.60.
EL CAPONY steps out in race six the SpryCrete Handicap (1200m) at 3.22pm SA time.
Manoel Nunes takes the ride on the mare which has drawn gate seven in a field of nine.
The five-year-old has run well at both runs from a break and both her wins have been at 1200 metres.
EL CAPONY should also run well.
TAB markets opened EL CAPONY as the $3.70 equal favourite with Shisuta Bo.
On the harness front, a perfect start to ABR&rsquo;s season with our first runner in 2025, CHRISLYNN proving too good for her rivals at Globe Derby Park on Monday.
The Ladies Club mare was resuming from a spell but had trialled well for her racing return.
Starting at the good odds of $7.50, CHRISLYNN sprinted strongly for trainer Aaron Bain and reinsman Wayne Hill to score a 2-1/2 metre win in the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Pace (1800m).
The six-year-old mare has now won three races for ABR, the last two in a row, and is proving herself in SA. 
ABR STAR
Anyone who watched the Oakbank race meeting last Wednesday could not but have been impressed by the mare DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA which made her race debut for trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor.
DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA produced a dazzling sprint to score before a large ownership group.
Ridden by apprentice Isaac Sit the mare came from last on the home turn in a field of eight to grab victory in the Klose&rsquo;s Foodland Class One Handicap (1050m).
Backed from $4 to start $2.70 favourite, DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA finished so fast she won by a half-length from Crown Riches ($10) with Jamaican Gold ($9.50), a similar margin away third.
Sit, who claimed 4kg off her 60kg allotted weight, allowed her to balance up at the tail of the field, some distance off the leaders who were going quick. He angled her to the outside turning for home and the mare sprinted powerfully to grab victory.
DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA was purchased by Aaron Bain Racing from an online auction in August last year.
Formerly trained by Ciaron Maher, the mare was given a short break before being trained up at Angaston Park then moved to ABR&rsquo;s Gawler stables for her final gallops.
Trainer Ned Taylor was impressed by the victory.
&ldquo;She came from a long way back,&rdquo; Taylor said.
&ldquo;Young Isaac was nice and patient and she got there just in time. He didn&rsquo;t panic, kept her balanced coming down the hill and really let her hit top gear.
&ldquo;They went hard &ndash; there was always going to be that extra pace here with a lot of on-speed horses.
&ldquo;They try to scoot here and get away from everyone, but Isaac did well and got them on the line.
&ldquo;It was good to see quate a few of the ownership group on course to see her win. They can go to the bar now and celebrate.&rdquo;
No harness runners this weekend in SA for ABR but trainer Aaron Bain is intending to take 17 to trial at Gawler on Sunday.
Included are many of ABR&rsquo;s classy three-year-olds which will shortly head across to Victoria to the stable of Emma Stewart for significant campaigns.
 <img src="https://www.prism.horse/api/public/image/6ec63f2acfd7452f8dded4aefbbeb8b1.jpg" alt="" width="677" height="808" /> 
WONDERWOMEN 
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&nbsp;
One of ABR&rsquo;s favourites WONDERWOMEN has been retired.
The six-year-old mare pulled up gingerly after running unplaced at Murray Bridge last Saturday.
Trainer Aaron Bain said the mare&rsquo;s front joints were a cause for concern.
&ldquo;We knew the time would come and this was her last preparation,&rdquo; Bain said.
&ldquo;We have been managing her issues for a while now and there is wear and tear in her legs so she would have had to go for a break.
&ldquo;She has been just off her absolute best in her last few runs and ABR believes now is the time to end her racing career.
&ldquo;It would have been nice to get fairytale win but it was not to be.&rdquo;
WONDERWOMEN retires with the record of five wins and eight placings from just 25 starts earning $205,305 in stakes.
Purchased online in 2022, the mare made a wonderful start for ABR.
After an excellent first up fourth, WONDERWOMEN won two straight &ndash; at Morphettville and Gawler &ndash; on December 26, 2022, and January 4, 2023.
For ABR, WONDERWOMEN had 17 starts for three wins, a second and three thirds picking up $120,775.
Thanks for the memories.

Aaron Bain Racing has taken our first step into the glamourous Magic Millions yearling sales with the purchase of a well-bred filly by sought after stallion Farnan.
ABR paid $100,000 for the filly out of the Encosta de Lago mare Forever Crazy, a six-race winner from 1350 metres to 1900 metres.
In the breeding barn she has produced the stakes winner Flying Crazy, by Flying Artie.
The filly is from the family of the current quality sprinter Arkansas Kid and also the good Queensland winner Garibaldi.
ABR director Aaron Bain, and Racing Manager Barend Vorster were at the Gold Coast sales complex early this week inspecting yearlings which were being offered in the Book Two section.
The growth of ABR will see the business active at all the yearling sales, but especially the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale over the next few months searching for future stars.
Keep a close check on the ABR website for opportunities to join the ride and #experiencetheTHRILL.
No runners for ABR on Wednesday but expect our colours to be seen on Friday at Penola and Saturday at Murray Bridge.
A perfect start to ABR&rsquo;s harness racing season with our first runner in 2025, CHRISLYNN proving too good for her rivals at Globe Derby Park on Monday.
The Ladies Club mare was resuming from a spell but had trialled well for her racing return.
Starting at the good odds of $7.50, CHRISLYNN sprinted strongly for trainer Aaron Bain and reinsman Wayne Hill to score a 2-1/2 metre win in the Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Pace (1800m).
The six-year-old mare has now won three races for ABR, the last two in a row, and is proving herself in SA.
&nbsp;
ABR STAR
Anyone who watched the Oakbank race meeting last Wednesday could not but have been impressed by the mare DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA which made her race debut for trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor.
DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA produced a dazzling sprint to score before a large ownership group.
Ridden by apprentice Isaac Sit the mare came from last on the home turn in a field of eight to grab victory in the Klose&rsquo;s Foodland Class One Handicap (1050m).
Backed from $4 to start $2.70 favourite, DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA finished so fast she won by a half-length from Crown Riches ($10) with Jamaican Gold ($9.50), a similar margin away third.
Sit, who claimed 4kg off her 60kg allotted weight, allowed her to balance up at the tail of the field, some distance off the leaders who were going quick. He angled her to the outside turning for home and the mare sprinted powerfully to grab victory.
DON&rsquo;TDOUBTLAYLA was purchased by Aaron Bain Racing from an online auction in August last year.
Formerly trained by Ciaron Maher, the mare was given a short break before being trained up at Angaston Park then moved to ABR&rsquo;s Gawler stables for her final gallops.
Trainer Ned Taylor was impressed by the victory.
&ldquo;She came from a long way back,&rdquo; Taylor said.
&ldquo;Young Isaac was nice and patient and she got there just in time. He didn&rsquo;t panic, kept her balanced coming down the hill and really let her hit top gear.
&ldquo;They went hard &ndash; there was always going to be that extra pace here with a lot of on-speed horses.
&ldquo;They try to scoot here and get away from everyone, but Isaac did well and got them on the line.
&ldquo;It was good to see quate a few of the ownership group on course to see her win. They can go to the bar now and celebrate.&rdquo;

Don’tdoubtlayla

Aaron Bain Racing this week has announced that champion jockey Barend Vorster has joined our team as Racing Manager.
Aaron Bain, principal of ABR, said Vorster&rsquo;s decision to join ABR was a massive boost to the business.
&ldquo;Barend is a good friend of Wayne Mitchell, the owner of Angaston Park, and since Ned and I have begun training at the venue, he has been coming along to watch trackwork and observe day-to-day running of the business,&rdquo; Bain said.
&ldquo;It was obvious to me that we needed to get him on board with his incredible knowledge of the industry.
&ldquo;When he was riding, ABR used Barend as often as we could, and his feedback from riding trackwork and in races was outstanding.
&ldquo;Unfortunately his riding career has been halted, and we have been able to grab him to become our Racing Manager.&rdquo;
Vorster started with ABR on Monday, January 6 and he and Bain flew to the Gold Coast to attend the Magic Millions Sales.
There are no plans to purchase a yearling, but rather to allow ABR to get the feel of the sales and develop contacts with a view to being active next year.
If ABR is to continue growing, we need to be seen at major racing events such as the Magic Millions sales.
The full story of Barend Vorster&rsquo;s appointment will appear as a story on the ABR website.
ABR had a very successful season with our harness racing two-year-olds in 2024 and on Sunday, we were able to trial eight of the crop for 2025.
There were two lots of two-year-old trials at Gawler on Sunday, and ABR had all eight horses taking part.
Heat one went to OPEN THE GATES driven by Bernadette Page coming home a last half in 60.8 seconds.
ROCKNMASEY was second, two metres astern, with POPPY LANE a similar margin away third.
Page also drove DEGARMEA TALE which took out the second heat with a last half in 61.4 seconds.
NOTGUILTY was second beaten a metre with LETSSTARTINHEAVEN a head away third.
ABR was very happy with the efforts of the two-year-olds which will continue their education and preparation at our Gawler stables before heading across to Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin.
&nbsp;On Wednesday, ABR heads to Oakbank with just the one runner &ndash; DONTDOUBTLAYLA.
The four-year-old mare will be debuting for ABR in race three, the Kloses Foodland Class One Handicap (1050m) at2.50pm SA time.
Formerly with Ciaron Maher, DONTDOUBTLAYLA has drawn barrier six in a field of nine and will be ridden by apprentice Isaac Sit who will claim 4kg off her weight of 60kg.
A maiden winner on the Kensington track in Sydney in January last year, the mare has had two trials to prepare her for a return to racing.
Importantly, DONTDOUBTLAYLA won a trial over 1050m at Oakbank on December 24 and handled the track beautifully.
She has worked well since and we believe she should be very competitive. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
WEEKEND STAR
It might not have been on the weekend, but there is no doubting HIGH GARDEN was again ABR&rsquo;s star to begin 2025.
At Murray Bridge on New Year&rsquo;s day, HIGH GARDEN successfully made the step up from maiden company to Benchmark 56.
Make no mistake, it is not easy to win a maiden then score in benchmark grade at you next start, just look the figures.
ABR has a good opinion of HIGH GARDEN, and the mare justified our faith with a virtual last-stride win in the Carlton Draught Benchmark Handicap (1400m) at Murray Bridge.
She was given a great ride by apprentice Taylor Johnstone and finished strongly to score a photo finish win.
HIGH GARDEN is owned by the Pipeliner Bloodstock company of Wayne Mitchell, the owner of Angaston Park.
Mitchell has always believed the mare is capable of getting out over a middle distance and ABR concurs.
Her wins at Balaklava and Murray Bridge have both been over 1400 metres but each time she has run strongly through the line indicating she can stretch out over more ground.

Race Review

A fabulous start to 2025 with Aaron Bain Racing&rsquo;s only runner at Murray Bridge on New Year&rsquo;s Day, High Garden, arriving in the last stride for another impressive win.
For ABR, it was the perfect start as we look to build our brand in 2025 and give our owners the chance to #experiencetheTHRILL.
A disappointing time for the Gawler &amp; Barossa Jockey Club which had to forfeit this Saturday&rsquo;s meeting because of sprinkler malfunctions which left the track unsuitable for racing.
It upset ABR&rsquo;s plans but we operate not sweating the things beyond our control.
AS a result of the meeting switch to Murray Bridge there was not really a suitable option for our Clare Cup winner THERMODYNAMIC as we prepare him for the Penola Cup (1700m) on Friday, January 17 so he stays at home in his stall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
ABR will head to the Bridge with two runners.
With the extreme weather forecast, race start times have been adjusted with an early start.
METRO LEGEND kicks our day off in race four, the Dutton&rsquo;s Easy To Do Business With Handicap (1200m) at 10.28am SA time.
In-form apprentice Taylah Johnstone will ride and claim 3kg on the seven-year-old which has drawn gate three in a field of 10.
ABR was confident he would have been very hard to beat at Gawler where he is a track specialist and is sure he will go well at the Bridge, but the long straight makes him a sitting target over the final stages.
METRO LEGEND is resuming but has trialled twice in preparation for his race return.
He has drifted from $4.80 out to $6 in early markets with the TAB.
EL CAPONY is ABR&rsquo;s other runner in race seven, the Fred Vella Tyre &amp; Crash Repairs Handicap (1100m) at 12 noon SA time.
Jason Holder will ride the mare which has drawn the extreme outside gate in a field of 10.
EL CAPONY resumed from a spell at Gawler on December 14 with an excellent third. Beaten just a half-length and will strip fitter on Saturday. She also has a good second-up record.
The mare was a $6 chance with the TAB but firmed on Thursday into $4.80.
Sunday sees ABR make the trip down to Naracoorte with two runners.
ABR has to wait until race five for our first runner, ESKY, in the Haynes Engineering Benchmark 56 Handicap (2000m) at 2.43pm SA time.
Hong Kong apprentice Isaac Sit, currently on loan in SA to improve his skills, takes the ride on ESKY which will come from gate one in a field of 13.
Sit claims 4kg so that will reduce the gelding&rsquo;s weight down to 57.5kg.
The five-year-old has been racing well and comes off a last-start third at Oakbank. He looks well placed on Sunday.
For NAVY GOLD, it is a return to where he made a winning debut in October 2023, and for good measure, jockey Dom Tourneur who was aboard that day, jumps back in the saddle.
NAVY GOLD has drawn barrier 11 in a field of 12 in race seven, the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Rasting 0-56 Handicap (1430m) at 3.58pm SA time.
The four-year-old has had two trials to ready him for a race return and ABR would like to see him powering home as he did for that initial win.
EL CAPONY was also an acceptor, but trainers Aaron Bain &amp; Ned Taylor decided to run the mare on Saturday with the better stakemoney on offer.
&nbsp;
TWO CHAMPIONS AT GALA DINNER
ABR is excited about our Gala Dinner on Friday, February 7 with this week&rsquo;s announcement champion jockeys Damien Oliver and Glen Boss will be the special guests.
Everyone who attended ABR&rsquo;s inaugural dinner in 2022 at the Gawler racecourse could not speak highly enough of our first guest Glen Boss who was very engaging, interesting and mingled with everyone.
So he is back this year and will be joined by Damien Oliver, who carries the nickname of &lsquo;The Goat&rsquo;, the greatest of all time.
Like Boss, Oliver has won the Melbourne Cup three times &ndash; Doriemus (1995),&nbsp;Media Puzzle (2002) and&nbsp;Fiorente (2013).
No-one will forget his win on Media Puzzle, just days after the passing of his brother Jason, with the story being made into a film called The Cup.
Oliver&rsquo;s list of major race wins is mind-blowing and includes four Caulfield Cups on Mannerism (1992), Paris Lane (1994),&nbsp;Doriemus (1995), and Sky Heights (1999); the&nbsp;Cox Plate on&nbsp;Dane Ripper (1997) and&nbsp;Northerly (2001); plus a Blue Diamond Stakes on&nbsp;Alinghi&nbsp;(2004). He was also the regular rider of&nbsp;Lee Freedman&rsquo;s champion sprinter Schillaci (1991&ndash;95). In the 2007&nbsp;Golden Slipper, Oliver completed the grand slam of Australian racing by winning the two-year-old race on the John Hawkes trained Forensics.
In 2013, Oliver won his third Melbourne Cup riding the favourite,&nbsp;Fiorente which was also his 100th Group 1 win.
His last race-day was at&nbsp;Ascot in Perth on December 16, 2023. He had seven rides and won all of his last three races with Devine Belief, Magnificent Andy and Munhamek. His final ride and win on Munhamek was in a race named after him, the&nbsp;Damien Oliver Gold Rush&nbsp;over 1400m.
In his career Oliver rode 3189 winners, including 129 Group Ones and he holds the Australian record for the number of Group One victories.
The 2025 ABR Gala winner will be held at the glamorous Wolf Blass &lsquo;The Man&rsquo; Event Centre at the Morphettville racecourse on Friday, February 7.
Noted broadcaster Terry McAuliffe will again be the compere.
Tickets are $175-per-person which includes a two-course meal with canapes on arrival, and a four-hour drink package.
ABR&rsquo;s Recognition awards and Horse Of The Year will be announced.
It is a night not to be missed with a pair of amazing guests in Damien Oliver and Glen Boss. <img src="https://www.prism.horse/api/public/image/495c87cba5114d72941af272b380620c.png" alt="" width="673" height="673" />
​

ABR Race Preview

Aaron Bain Racing would like to wish our ownership base and followers a very Merry Christmas.
It has been a wonderful year for ABR with outstanding successes on the track and the opportunity to move into the magnificent training base of Angaston Park.
Hopefully, through the year, ABR has been able to deliver &lsquo;presents&rsquo; to our owners with winners, and we hope for many more in 2025.
No better named runner the CAPTAIN PERFECT to be ABR&rsquo;s final winner before Christmas Day when it is Santa&rsquo;s turn to squeeze down the chimney with gifts.
At Melton on Saturday, CAPTAIN PERFECT won his first race with a brilliant victory in the 2024 Alabar Vicbred Platinum Homegrown Classic (1720m) for two-year-old colts &amp; geldings.
No race runners before Christmas Day but ABR headed to Oakbank on Tuesday with seven horses to trial.
We were looking to see Metro Legend, Overextend, Navy Gold, Damaged, Beach Pad, Don&rsquo;tdoubtlayla and Pacific Jewel step out during their current preparations.
ABR&rsquo;s first runner post-Christmas will be MERCHELLE at Morphettville Parks on Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26.
MERCHELLE will start in the Grand Syndicates Handicap (150m), race seven, at 4.42pm SA time.
Manoel Nunes will ride the mare which has drawn gate three in a field of 10 and is weighted on the minimum 54kg.
Nunes was aboard the five-year-old mare when she made her debut for ABR and was an excellent photo-finish second over 1200 metres at Morphettville on December 13.
MERCHELLE has trained on well and looks to be very competitive again.
ABR WEEKEND STAR
CAPTAIN PERFECT stamped himself as a potential star with an outstanding win in the 2024 Alabar Vicbred Platinum Homegrown Classic (1720m) for two-year-old colts &amp; geldings at Melton on Saturday.
Well backed from $5.50 into $2.80, CAPTAIN PERFECT came from gate five and driver Mark Pitt allowed him to balance up early as his conqueror from the heat, Ronnie The Hammer ($2 fav), displayed his customary early speed and found the front.
Pitt then allowed CAPTAIN PERFECT to stride forward, and he took control and kept up a good tempo.
Ronnie The Hammer accepted the trail, then tried to pass ABR&rsquo;s star in the home straight, but was unable to bridge the gap, going under by 2.5 metres.
ABR thanks trainer Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin for their work with CAPTAIN PERFECT which rated an outstanding 1:52.2 and we look forward to his three-year-old season in 2025.
Winning reinsman Mark Pitt gave a glowing report on CAPTAIN PERFECT.
&ldquo;Early on I thought once I got clear room I would drive him like he was the best horse,&rdquo; Pitt said.
&ldquo;He kept rolling strong, because you can take a bit of the sting out of those speedy ones.
&ldquo;I reckon he is one of those sort of horses that has a lot more stamina than speed at the moment.
&ldquo;He can be a bit of a handful at times but once he works it all out I think he is going to be a pretty serious horse.
&ldquo;He has got to be one of the better ones with Emma and Clayton &ndash; I don&rsquo;t like comparing them &ndash; but he has got to be up there.&rdquo;

aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 60679 Abr Weekend Review

ABR Weekend Review

Mon, Dec 23, 2024

BEGIN YOUR ABR JOURNEY

aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 60679 Abr Weekend Review

ABR Weekend Review

Mon, Dec 23, 2024

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BEGIN YOUR ABR JOURNEY