aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 61039 Overextend

Second-up specialist Overextend proved too good for the opposition with a tough performance to win at Morphettville on Saturday, February 8.

Overextend provided a perfect postscript to the Aaron Bain Racing Gala Dinner held at the racecourse the previous evening.

Ridden by apprentice Taylah Johnstone, the six-year-old began brilliantly from his outside draw and crossed down to second spot rounding the home turn.

Overextend ($10) worse down the bold front running leader Vexatious Dancer ($14) to score by a half-length with The Magistrate ($10) a similar margin away third.

The gelding now has won three times second up in six preparations, with a second as well.

Trainer Aaron Bain said Overextend had benefitted from a good break.

“When we first got him he had been up for 11 months and we tried to take advantage of his wet track form and pushed on his with his preparation,” Bain said.

“It is not something we normally do with tried horses, but we gave him three runs and he got progressively worse and worse.

“We had no option but to spell, and to be fair to the owners, I said we could put him online and cut our losses or we give him a freshen up and start again.

“They were very patient, and his best form is his fresh form.

“He went very good first up and the horse that beat him went on to win at the (Moonee) Valley last Friday, so the form was good enough.

“This race on paper was a lovely race for him and it is not often you see horses get beaten at Penola and come to win in town second up, but he got the job done.

“It was a lovely ride by Taylah (Johnstone), she got across from the wide gate and he got the job done.

“It tops off last night’s wonderful Aaron Bain Racing Gala Dinner – a brilliant postscript.”

Winning jockey Taylah Johnstone said she always wanted to use Overextend’s early speed to overcome his barrier draw of 12 in a field of 14.

“The plan was to go forward and leave him alone,” Johnstone said.

“They (trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor) said he is a wind and grind sought of horse, he doesn’t have too much of a sprint.

“The horse running along in front kept him concentrating but I was getting a little bit worried that he was giving too much of head start.

“However, he had a bit left in the tank on the line, so it was a strong run.

“He was good through the line, but he is a bit of a thinker, however, once he went past the leader he was going to keep going.”

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