Kelvin Southey has no regrets about delaying Bazaball Rewarded’s metropolitan racing career until this season, and he is delighted the mare is now getting her chance to prove her capabilities.
The four-year-old mare’s sole three outings this year have all been at Caulfield, yielding wins either side of a fifth place in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes.
Bazaball Rewarded is set to return to Caulfield this Saturday for the $130,000 Sportsbet More Places BM84 Handicap over 1100 metres.
Mornington-based trainer Southey kept the daughter of Reward For Effort at her home track last campaign, where she was honoured as the Mornington Marvel, an award that came with a substantial $100,000 prize.
This prize was an irresistible lure for Southey, and he suggested that the additional grounding in lower-grade races might have even benefited her development.
“I would have brought her to town earlier, but that was a bit of a carrot there,” Southey stated. “She ran a track record at Mornington, so she’s obviously got some gears and then the two wins at Caulfield have been really good and this prep I think she’s improved.”
Bazaball Rewarded secured victory in five of her six starts at Mornington last preparation, with her only defeat occurring in her sole start beyond 1000 metres, where she finished fourth in a 1200m BM66 event won by Recon.
Her two victories this preparation have both been over 1000 metres. While the Bel Esprit Stakes was contested over 1100 metres, Southey indicated that there was merit to that run and is confident she is more than a sprinter over shorter distances.
“I thought she was unlucky in the Bel Esprit, so far as they just ran a bit quick early and then she still sprinted well at the top of the straight, but just probably in the wrong part of the track,” he commented. “I think if we can just have her settle a little bit better early, she’ll finish off better.”
Southey had the option of running Bazaball Rewarded against her own sex at Caulfield, with the second race on the card a BM84 over 1100m, restricted to fillies and mares. However, he opted to race against the males with a lighter weight.
Premiership contender Jamie Mott is scheduled to ride from barrier 12 in the field of 16. Bazaball Rewarded will carry 59.5kg, which is two kilograms less than she would have carried in the fillies and mares event.
“I just didn’t want to put too much weight on her and Jamie rides her well – he’s got a good feel for her,” Southey concluded.
Consider checking out the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites for Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.