aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 61106 Shady Thinker

A gamble by trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor paid the ultimate dividend when Shady Thinker made an impressive debut at Morphettville Parks on Saturday, February 15.

After settling third, Shady Thinker burst between the leaders to race away in the Sportsbet Fast Form Maiden (1000m).

Ridden by Jason Holder, the three-year-old picked up the $27,300 first prize and also collected a $21,120 Racing Rewards bonus for a $48,420 return.

Starting at $7.50, Shady Thinker won by 2-1/4 lengths from Ad Astra ($1.60 fav) with Aramoso ($12), a half-length away third.

Trainer Aaron Bain said the victory had been very special for Aaron Bain Racing.

“We have got a lot of time for the horse,” Bain said.

“We had to back ourselves in today.

“Mark Pilkington from Seymour Bloodstock rang early in the week and asked if we wanted to find an easier assignment first up.

“I slept on it for 48 hours then said to Ned (Taylor) and Will (O’Malley) what are we doing and decided to back ourselves in.

“I rang Mark back on Thursday and said fortune favours the brave and we are running.

“The concern was whether he would be sharp enough at the 1000 metres because had had had two trials at 1000 and been impressive on both occasions. He just had to come and deliver on race day.”

Bain said Shady Thinker had been purchased at the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale in 2023 for $55,000.

“It was special, to get one here out of the sales.

“As a stable, we are trying to get started with young horses and he was a horse that not many people bought into.

“We only sold 20% of him and I owned about 65%. I went on Darren Thomas’ farm tour at Seymour Bloodstock which he holds once a year, and he rang me on the way home and said to invoice him for a third and he would take the pain with me.

“So to go to Darren’s farm then sell a share of the horse back to him after he sold it at the Adelaide sale is a credit to Darren and Mark for their trust in us so to deliver today was special.”

Winning jockey Jason Holder was full of praise for Shady Thinker.

“It was fantastic,” Holder said.

“He went through his trials nicely and brought it to race day.

“He jumped well and got a nice position.

“In the straight there were horses running up and about and I went to the inside because I thought it was our best option.

“He took the gap really nicely and went though it really well.

He was stronger today than he was in his trials, so he has benefitted from those trials.”