aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 60911 Abr Weekend Preview

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 8^th of March Rating 0-56 (1400m) at 6.53pm SA time.

 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. 

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’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’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.

 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.   

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ABR retirement

ABR says “thank you” 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’s White Sock. Of interest, Let It Ride is out of a Bettors Delight mare as is IM THEMIGHTYLUCY.

ABR can’t wait to see the foal of one of our favourite mares.