Aaron Bain well placed for first stakes victory with Bakeel and Dubai Focus at Morphettville on Saturday

Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor’s emergence as a training force in South Australia can continue with a maiden stakes win at Morphettville on Saturday.

Bakeel, ridden by Manoel Nunes, winning at Morphettville last start. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

You could see it gathering momentum a mile away, and as trainer Aaron Bain has grown his Angaston stable, the results have come thick and fast.

A strike rate of 20 per cent this season is the product of a sensational run of form that saw Bain claim the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and saddle up metro winners at nine consecutive meetings across February and March.

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It has stamped Bain, and his co-trainer Ned Taylor, as a rising force in Adelaide’s training ranks, and a maiden stakes win at Morphettville on Saturday would show that they’ve truly arrived.

The pair are strongly represented in two stakes contests on Saturdays’ nine-race card, gun ex-Singapore galloper Bakeel a $2 favourite (Sportsbet) for the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1529m), while talented 3YO Dubai Focus is a strong chance in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m).

Bakeel is unbeaten in three Australian starts since arriving in Adelaide.

The gelding was a comfortable winner in his first two starts of the preparation, but was made to earn his victory last start on the Morphettville Parks circuit over a determined Nasho.

“We couldn’t be happier with him to be fair, his gallop on Tuesday was probably his best piece of work for the preparation really,” Bain said.

Bakeel continues his strong start to his Australian career with a second win in a row 🔥@aaronbainracing goes back-to-back at Murray Bridge 💪 pic.twitter.com/V8QJdWQbug

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“Nasho to their credit, tried to win the race on the turn (last start), and that just made Manoel (Nunes) ask the horse, but the reason for heading there was then it gave us three weeks into the City Of Adelaide which was the ideal preparation for him.”

Bain has been buoyed by Bakeel since he made the move to his stable from Singapore, after racing in the jurisdiction ended in October 2024.

“You’ve always got that unknown, and particularly you never know how that Singapore to Australia form is going to line up,” he said.

“There’s certainly enough to suggest its lining up really well now even with the horses interstate that have come out from the Singapore closure.

“He’s been somewhat of a surprise packet, he’s probably gone to another level and he has to do that (again) on Saturday to win a City Of Adelaide.

“We will learn a lot more Saturday, if he comes through and wins – he can go on to bigger things.”

Ned Taylor (left) and Aaron Bain (right) celebrate a metro treble at Murray Bridge in March. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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Jockey Manoel Nunes has been a key part of Bain’s success so far this season, and will pilot Bakeel again on Saturday, the hoop was the regular rider for Bakeel when the pair were both located in Singapore.

“We’re looking forward into it, I suppose you go into it with a few nerves,” Bain said.

“It’s been a really good start to the year but ultimately when we moved into Angaston Park it was about adding to that tally of 788 stakes winners off the property.

“The sooner we can get that first stakes winner, we can hopefully go on and win many more, but we are not putting that pressure on ourselves, we’ll let the horse come out and hopefully do the talking tomorrow.

“We couldn't be happier with him and it’s that first milestone you look for as an emerging stable – that first stakes winner.

“You just want to see him run well, also for Mansoor Gandhi, the owner, that’s probably the biggest thing for us, rewarding him for his trust with us. Hopefully we can do it justice tomorrow and become the 789th stakes winner at Angaston Park.”

If Bakeel wins the City Of Adelaide, Bain has an eye on Group 3 The Cummings Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 10.

Dubai Focus, who has won three of his past four starts, will be ridden by Jason Holder, and is on the third line of betting for the Port Adelaide Guineas.

“He’s a horse that has to go to another level on Saturday, but if he does, and he’s free rolling out in front, he can give the owners a very big thrill turning for home,” Bain said.

Originally published as Aaron Bain well placed for first stakes victory with Bakeel and Dubai Focus at Morphettville on Saturday