Kelvin Southey does not regret keeping Bazaball Rewarded away from city racing until this campaign, and he is pleased she is now getting the opportunity to prove herself.
The four-year-old mare’s three starts this year have all been at Caulfield, resulting in wins either side of a fifth-place finish in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes.
Bazaball Rewarded will 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 preparation, where she was crowned the Mornington Marvel, an award that carried a $100,000 prize.
The significant prize was a major incentive for Southey, who believes the extra grounding in lower-grade races may have aided her development.
“I would have brought her to town earlier, but that was a bit of a carrot there,” Southey said. “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 won five of her six starts at Mornington last preparation, with her only defeat coming at her sole run beyond 1000 metres, where she finished fourth in a 1200m BM66 won by Recon.
Her two wins this preparation have come over 1000 metres. While the Bel Esprit Stakes was over 1100 metres, Southey believes there was merit in that run and is convinced she is more than just 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 in the second race, a BM84 over 1100m restricted to fillies and mares. However, he preferred to race against the males with less weight.
Premiership contender Jamie Mott is booked to ride from barrier 12 in a field of 16. Bazaball Rewarded will carry 59.5kg, two kilograms less than she would have had 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 added.
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