Aaron Bain Racing | Aaron Bain News 61460 Abr Weekend Preview

The continued growth of Aaron Bain Racing takes another step with our biggest representation at a metropolitan meeting at Morphettville on Saturday.

ABR has accepted with eight horses, but unfortunately, one is only an emergency.

Saturday’s Morphettville meeting also sees ABR attempt to stretch our winning run at an Adelaide metro meeting to nine and hopefully we have the runners to make it happen.

The meeting also sees ABR with two runners in a black type race attempting to supply our first Listed win.

ABR’s day starts in race one, the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1600m), at 12.27pmn SA time when promising DUBAI FOCUS attempts to add to his picket fence of victories.

Jason Holder retains the ride drawing barrier four in a field of seven.

It will be interesting to see the tactics of rivals, but ABR knows DUBAI FOCUS loves to roll along, and his way of racing won’t be changing.

The three-year-old has won his past two over 1400 metres around the Parks circuit, and on Saturday steps out to the 1600 around the spacious outer track.

DUBAI FOCUS has opened as a $2 favourite with the TAB with Snoopy Now second pick at $2.80.

RUBAMOS steps out in race two, The Fotobase Group Handicap (1600m) at 1.02pm SA time.

Apprentice Taylor Johnstone will in the saddle claiming 2kg and coming from gate five in a field of eight.

RUBAMOS finds himself opposed to strong rivals but has trained on well since his excellent first up second over 1400 metres on the Parks track on March 1.

He has opened at $6.50 with the TAB behind the $2.90 favourite A Samurai Mind.

The promising SHADY THINKER runs in race three, the Fleurieu Milk Company Handicap (1050m) at 1.37pm SA time.

A winner of his only two starts, the three-year-old has come up with barrier two in a field of nine and Jason Holder rides again.

SHADY THINKER won his maiden around the Morphettville Parks then scored again at Murray Bridge so the big main track at Morphettville should suit him ideally.

The three-year-old has opened as the $2.80 favourite with the TAB with the rest of the field between $6 and R$11.

Former Singapore galloper ASIF goes around in race four, the Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival April 26 – May 10 Handicap (1100m) at 2.12pm SA time.

The race is heat five of the Festival Sprint Series in which ABR is already well represented.

Manoel Nunes rides the gelding which has drawn gate four in a field of 12.

ASIF was excellent on his debut for ABR running third over 1000 metres around the Parks track. He definitely will be suited by the larger main track and also the extra 100 metres.

Saturday’s field is quite strong, but we would expect him to be very competitive.

ASIF has opened at $6.50 with the favourite Watchme Win at $3.70.

Stepping up in class is BEACH PAD which will run in race five, the Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (2028m) at 2.47pm SA time.

He has drawn barrier three in a field of 15 with one emergency and Jason Holder has the ride.

BEACH PAD was very impressive breaking his maiden at Strathalbyn on March 12 and the way he ran through the line indicates Saturday’s track and trip will be ideal.

It is a much stronger race, but we would hope he would run well.

The TAB rates BEACH PAD quite highly and has him at $3.70 in early markets with the Victorian Fontaine Rouge favourite at $2.80.

ABR was disappointed NAVY GOLD, a winner of his last two starts, could only be named second emergency in race six, the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1522m) at 3.22pm SA time.

He is number 15 in a field of 16 with three emergencies.

Manoel Nunes stays aboard, and NAVY GOLD has drawn barrier five.

The four-year-old has been a narrow, but good, winner of his past two starts at Oakbank and Murray Bridge and ABR felt the Morphettville track would be perfect for him.

Hopefully, he can obtain a start.

NAVY GOLD opened at just $7 with Spirit of Camelot the favourite at $2.10.

ABR’s final two runners on Saturday are both ex-Singapore gallopers which step out in race seven, the Listed Sportsbet Matrice Stakes (1200m) at 3.57pm SA time.

GHALIB drew gate 13 in a field of 14 with Will Price to ride while MAKIN has barrier eight with Manoel Nunes in the saddle.

As you would expect, the Matrice is an extremely strong race, but ABR is excited to saddle up our pair.

GHALIB had no luck at his only run in the Listed Manihi Stakes and didn’t finish that far behind the winner Sir Sway, one of his rivals again on Saturday.

The draw is no help but the five-year-old will take benefit from his last outing.

MAKIN has had two trials to ready him for his race return, the most recent a win over 1000 metres at Murray Bridge on March 14.

He had excellent form in Singapore last year running a close second in the Singapore Derby before finishing fourth in the Raffles Cup.

MAKIN is certainly a talented galloper, and we are looking forward to saddling him up in a tough company for his ABR debut.

The TAB believes the pair have tough contracts opening MAKIN at $15 with GHALIB at $23 behind the favourite Aviatress at $2.80.

On the harness front, incredibly, ABR’s star two-year-old LOUCASSO has again drawn barrier nine at Bathurst on Saturday.

He had that draw when a brilliant winner last Friday night in his heat of the Gold Crown.

LOUCASSO now has gate nine again in the Group 1 $150,000 Hynash Group Gold Crown Final (1730m).

Trained by Emma Stewart and driven by James Herbertson, the colt rated a brilliant 1:55.4 in his heat win, basically just dashing up the sprint lane in the home straight.

That followed his easy win on race debut at Kilmore on February 27 rating a smart 1:57.4.

LOUCASSO obviously strikes a tougher field on Saturday with all the other heat winners, but he looks a good chance of remaining unbeaten. 

Early markets have LOUCASSO as the $2.30 favourite just ahead of Rewatch ($2.80) which will come from barrier one.