GRAHAM FISCHER
THERE was no Saturday night harness racing in South Australia because of the inclement weather, but there was major local interest in the feature harness racing meeting
at Albion Park in Queensland.
Gawler-based Aaron Bain Racing had investment in three runners in two of the Group One events.
ABR was involved in the ownership of Spirit of St Louis, a starter in the Queensland main event, the $250,000 TAB Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship (2680m), as well as the pair of
Humble Ladd and Godofthunder, which competed in the $51,000 Maer Group Queensland Trotters Cup (2680m).
Aaron Bain, principal of Aaron Bain Racing, said it had been a thrill to have three runners on Queensland’s biggest night of harness racing.
There was some joy with Humble Ladd finishing an excellent second in the Trotters Cup.
Sent out a $4.60 chance, Humble Ladd, driven by Luke McCarthy, was beaten by just under three metres by Tough Monarch ($3.80) with Pink Galahs ($2.50 fav), five metres away third.
McCarthy drove hard early on the six-year-old and grabbed the spot outside the leader early, before Tough Monarch came around to grab that spot.
In the run to the finish, Humble Ladd tried hard, but could not catch the winner.
“He has had two wins and two seconds in Group One races from only four starts for us,” Bain said.
“Our good friend Victorian trainer-driver Alex Ashwood is a major shareholder in Humble Ladd and the horse will now go to his property for a break.
“Alex will take over his training later in the year and set him for the Trotters Cup races.”
Godofthunder, a recent winner of the Redcliffe Trotters Cup, finished seventh in the Trotters Cup and Bain was happy with his effort.
“He is racing in career-best form and was taking on the best in the country on Saturday night,” he said.
“He will have a week off before continuing his campaign.”
Spirit of St Louis started at $61 in the Blacks A Fake Championship and came from barrier four.
Sadly, his stablemate, the red hot $1.22 favourite King Of Swing, galloped early from gate one and contacted a sulky wheel, meaning Spirit of St Louis had to race with a flat tyre for the rest of the race.
He eventually finished 11th, but was still only 19.9 metres from the winner.
Bain said it had been a thrill to have a runner in such a prestigious Group One race.
“Realistically, Spirit of St Louis is still about six to 12 months away from reaching his peak,” Bain said.
“Through our good association with Summit Bloodstock, ABR and a group of our owners were able to become involved in the horse when he was purchased from New Zealand several months ago.
“He was sent to Sydney trainer Belinda McCarthy, who has done a remarkable job in the three months she has had him.
“Spirit of St Louis has won four of his six starts for us, including the Group Three Four-Year-Old Championship.
“He will have a break now and we look forward to racing against the best horses in the Grand Circuit races later in the year.
“Luke McCarthy, who has been the principal driver, believes Spirit of St Louis has one of the fastest sprints of any horse he has driven.
“He is excited about seeing what Spirit of St Louis can do after a break.”
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