Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61390 Bakeel

Bakeel remained unbeaten for trainers Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor with an emphatic victory on the Morphettville Parks circuit on Saturday, March 22.

The Singapore-owned Bakeel made it three straight wins in the Sportsbet Handicap (1400m) and in victory gave the trainers at least one winner at the last eight metropolitan Adelaide meetings.

Ridden by Manoel Nunes, the four-year-old, sensationally backed from $1.80 into $1.35 favourite, finished powerfully to score a half-length win from the front runner Nasho ($14) with Motorace ($21), 1-1/4 lengths away third.

 Nunes had Bakeel away nicely from gate two and settled one-out, one-back early.

The leader Nasho sprinted for home turning into the straight and grabbed a break on Bakeel, but Nunes started working on the gelding and reeled it in.

While the margin was only a half-length, Bakeel was powerful over the final 200 metres to win well.

Trainer Aaron Bain said Bakeel would now head to the Listed $130,000 City of Adelaide Handicap (1500m) at Morphettville on Saturday, April 12.

“Nasho made him earn it today, but good horses find a way to win and that is what he did,” Bain said.

“He’ll go to the City of Adelaide now.

“He is looking for the 1500 metres on the main track.

“We wanted to run today to go three weeks to the City of Adelaide.

“We’ve got through three from three, he has probably got just one more run in the prep, the City of Adelaide, it is his grand final.

“It is likely he can have a break with a view to the Balaklava, Murray Bridge and Gawler Cups in the spring.

“We think he will be stronger for a break but there are other options after the City of Adelaide should he come through it really well.

“He is a progressive horse for Aaron Bain Racing that is going to do a really good job in the spring.

“We want to be mindful of his rating and just place him where we can very effectively.

“The City of Adelaide has always been that fourth run in and the grand final of this prep.”

Winning jockey Manoel Nunes said it had been a good win by Bakeel.

“The Morphettville Parks track straight is a little bit shorter,” Nunes said.

“I had to had to get to work a little bit early.

“He’s done a great job and won quite comfortably.

“I didn’t need to ride him so hard so now we look forward to his next run in three weeks.”