Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61388 Weekend Preview

Aaron Bain Racing takes a team of three to Morphettville Parks on Saturday looking to continue to keep our brand in the racing spotlight.

ABR was easily the most active buyer at the 2025 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sales on Monday and Tuesday this week coming away with 16 lots.

However, it is on the racetrack where we have been under the spotlight.

ABR is the only trainer in South Australia this year which has been able to supply at least one winner at the metro races for an incredible seven straight meetings.

Never wanting to get ahead of ourselves, we look to have a good chance of stretching it to eight on Saturday.

Good mare EVERGLADE returns to racing in the opening event, the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) at 12.27pm SA time.

The event is a heat of the Festival State Sprint Series which culminates in a rich final at Morphettville during the autumn carnival.

Apprentice Taylor Johnstone has her first ride on EVERGLADE and claims 2kg coming from gate one in a field of 10.

The five-year-old mare has built up a good record with ABR and has had two trials to prepare her for a return to racing.

The TAB has listed EVERGLADE at $6 in early markets behind equal favourites Nextonixs and Sistine Tunnel at $3.90.

Former Singapore galloper BAKEEL will be out to bring up a hat-trick of wins in race three, the Sportsbet Handicap (1400m) at 1.37pm SA time.

Manoel Nunes retains the ride, and the gelding has drawn barrier three in a field of nine.

BAKEEL has looked super impressive winning first up for ABR at Morphettville on February 22 over 1200m, then again over 1400m at Murray Bridge on March 8.

A different challenge for the four-year-old this week around the tighter Parks circuit but he still looks very capable of making it a hat-trick of wins.

BAKEEL has opened at $1.65 favourite with the TAB with Seeking Stardom the second pick at $5.

ABR’s final runner on Saturday is OVEREXTEND is race five, the Hahn Handicap (1000m) at 2.47pm SA time. It is also a heat of the Festival State Sprint Series.

OVEREXTEND will come from gate one in a field of 12 with apprentice Taylor Johnstone to ride and claim 2kg.

There should be excellent speed in the event which should give Johnstone every chance to have a good trail on the six-year-old.

OVEREXTEND was a creditable fourth over this track and trip on March 1 and should prove competitive.

The TAB opened OVEREXTEND at $4.60, the second favourite behind Volcanic Express at $2.60.

ABR’s harness team is starting to step out again and HEZA PUNK ROCKER will attempt to add another Group 1 to his record on Saturday stepping out in the $150,000 Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup Final (2579m) at 8.40pm SA time.

HEZA PUNK ROCKER, driven by James Herbertson and trained by Emma Stewart, will carry the nine saddlecloth and come from four on the 10-metre handicap group in the standing start event.

There are 15 acceptors with one emergency.

The gelding ran third in his heat after racing roughly several times and stumbling once.

The Vic Super Series winner will no doubt be improved by the run.

In early Cup markets, the TAB had HEZA PUNK ROCKER the $2.40 favourite.

Earlier, on Friday evening, ABR’s talented two-year-old LOUCASSO was engaged in the Nathan Xuereb Farrier Services Gold Crown Heat Seven (1730m) at Bathurst in New South Wales.

LOUCASSO, trained by Emm Stewartand driven by James Herbertson, drew nine, gate one on the second row.

The two-year-old colt was an easy winner on race debut at Kilmore on February 27 rating a smart 1:57.4. 

 

Magic Millions Adelaide Sales

Aaron Bain Racing came away with a huge number of yearlings from the 2025 Magic Millions Adelaide Sales conducted on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Aaron Bain, principal of ABR, said the business had acquired 16 yearlings over the two days.

“We purchased 12 in our own right and with Summit Bloodstock, plus picked up another four,” Bain said.

“One of the highlight purchases was the half-brother to our star Dubai Focus which cost $120,000 but was quickly sold out.

“There were four other yearlings which were taken up before Wednesday.

“It is also good to welcome new owners to our ABR family.

“Prominent Victorian owner-breeder David Moodie, who previously raced Dual Pressure, has come on board, and so too has the super successful Yulong operation.”

Bain said he welcomed enquiries from anyone wanting to jump onto the Bain ownership train in the yearlings left to sell out.

“We were really happy with all the yearlings we purchased and look forward to taking them forward to a racing career.”

Click here to see all Yearling Purchases