aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 60935 Weekend Review

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 – 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 & 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 & 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’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

What a ride by Jason Holder to land DAMAGED a narrow winner at Strathalbyn on Sunday – they are both ABR’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’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 ‘thank you’ for their patience with Damaged.

“Unfortunately, he bled last preparation and had to have a three-month spell,” Bain said.

“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.

“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.

“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’s colours.

“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.

“He has been working well and brought it to the races today,” Holder said.

“We had a lovely run in transit.

“When I brought him out (in the home straight) I thought we were going to win easier, but he did get there.”