aaron_bain | Aaron Bain News 61212 Abr Weekend Preview

February was fabulous for Aaron Bain Racing, hopefully now March will be magnificent.

ABR heads to Morphettville Parks on Saturday with five runners hoping to extend our metro winning run which stands at three in the last three weeks.

We accepted with six but opted to scratch recent stable addition DUAL PRESSURE after he drew poorly. He can kick off for ABR on Adelaide Cup day, Monday, March 10.

Our day starts in race four, the Fotobase Group Handicap (1550m) at 2.12pm SA time with BULLET WING looking to go one better after consecutive seconds.

Apprentice Taylor Johnstone stays about BULLET WING which has drawn gate eight in a field of nine.

The gelding was grabbed late around the Parks circuit at his most recent run but arguably faces a slightly tougher field on Saturday.

BULLET WING opened at $4.60 with the TAB but drifted to $5 with Bad Detective the right favourite firming from $2.40 into $2.25.

Bold running DUBAI FOCUS resumes in race six, the SkyCity Handicap (1400m) at 3.22pm SA time.

Jason Holder will ride the three-year-old which has drawn barrier three in a field of 10.

DUBAI FOCUS hasn’t raced since winning easily at Gawler in October. He has trialled twice in readiness for his return, the most recent a close second over 1050m at Morphettville.

The TAB has opened him a $6 in an open betting race with Justa Star and Angel Torque equal favourites at $4.

Following the outstanding win of BAKEEL last Saturday for ABR, his ex-Singapore stablemate ASIF will step out on Saturday in race seven, the Thomas Farms Handicap (1000m) at 3.57pm SA time.

Manoel Nunes will ride coming from gate three in a field of 10.

He rode the gelding when a winner over 1200 metres in Singapore at the end of September.

ASIF has trialled nicely twice and should prove competitive.

OVEREXTEND has also accepted in the Thomas Farms Handicap and has drawn barrier five with Taylor Johnstone to ride and claim 2kg.

The six-year-old was an impressive winner at Morphettville on February 2.

The TAB opened ASIF at $4.80 and he firmed to $4.40 while OVEREXTEND was at $8 and drifted to $8.50 with the favourite the Victorian The Showvinist opening at $3.20 but backed into $2.90.

OVEREXTEND also accepted for Penola on Sunday, but the trainers have opted to run on Saturday.

Another to resume for ABR is the impressive RUBAMOS in race eight, the Happy 21^st Willski Handicap (1400m) at 4.37pm SA time.

Taylor Johnstone has been booked for the seven-year-old which has drawn eight in a field of 10.

RUBAMOS hasn’t raced since finishing midfield, but close up, in the Christmas Handicap at Morphettville on December 28.

Johnstone rode the gelding when he won a 1050 metre trial at Morphettville on February 11.

The TAB had RUBAMOS at $10 with the favourite Lets Get Down at $2.70.

 

 

ABR’s admiration for galloper MIDNIGHT MASS has gone up a level.

With seconds in the Gawler Cup, John Letts Cup and Happy Trails final as well as a third in the Strathalbyn Cup, he had an excellent preparation, but trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor felt he wasn’t quite 100 percent but couldn’t any issue.

When he was going for a break after the Strathalbyn run, it was decided to send him to the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic to see if there was a problem.

After a thorough investigation, it was discovered he had a small fracture in his hip ball joint on the near side which he had been favouring, more so later in the preparation.

Trainer Aaron Bain said it was quite nasty.

“It obviously had been giving him a little bit of trouble for some time,” Bain said.

“He is now on box rest at Angaston Park, and it could be out for up to six months.

“There will be two to three months in the box before putting him out in a paddock.

“Now we know his problem, our vet can keep a close watch on his rehabilitation.

“Because he has been so good for ABR, we are prepared to give him as much time as he needs before attempting another preparation.

“He has none a massive job nursing that through and we look to getting him right later in the year.”