Bazaball Rewarded set for Caulfield return

Kelvin Southey is content with his decision to withhold Bazaball Rewarded from city racing until the current campaign, and he is pleased she is now being given the opportunity to demonstrate her class.

The four-year-old mare's three starts this year have all taken place at Caulfield, resulting in victories either side of a fifth-place finish in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes.

Bazaball Rewarded will make her way back to Caulfield this Saturday for the $130,000 Sportsbet More Places BM84 Handicap, a 1100-metre contest.

Mornington trainer Southey kept the daughter of Reward For Effort primarily at her home track last preparation, where she was recognised as the Mornington Marvel, an award that carried a prize of $100,000.

This significant prize was a major draw for Southey, who believes the additional experience gained 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 was successful in five of her six starts at Mornington in the previous preparation, with her sole setback occurring beyond 1000 metres when she finished fourth in a 1200m BM66 race claimed by Recon.

Her two wins this season have both been over 1000 metres. Although the Bel Esprit Stakes was run over 1100 metres, Southey maintains there was merit in that performance and insists she is more than capable of excelling 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 explained. "I think if we can just have her settle a little bit better early, she'll finish off better."

Southey had the choice of pitting Bazaball Rewarded against fillies and mares at Caulfield in the second race, a BM84 over 1100m. However, he preferred to have her race against the colts and geldings with a lighter impost.

Leading jockey Jamie Mott will partner the mare from barrier 12 in a field of 16. Bazaball Rewarded is assigned 59.5kg, 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 added.

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