Surprise Baby to make raceday return

[Wandering Eyes]

Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) will make his first raceday appearance since jumping favourite in last year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he lines-up in the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday for new trainer Gavin Bedggood.

The son of Shocking finished 13th in the two-mile feature and then suffered a hairline fracture when preparing for the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m).

Bedggood has been pleased with Surprise Baby’s progress ahead of Saturday.

“Jordan Childs rode him (on Tuesday) and I rode the lead horse. We went a nice half-mile working gallop, and he kept improving the whole way,” Bedggood told Racing.com.

“Just before the 200m I had a peek over my shoulder to see where he was and as quick as I did he was burning straight past me.

“He looked to work great, pulled up fantastic in the wind and Jordy couldn’t be happier too.

“All going well he will take his place on Saturday.”

While expecting a forward showing this weekend, Bedggood has his expectations firmly in check, knowing his charge will prefer more ground.

“I’m a realist. He’s obviously a staying horse, but we’ve tried to keep his work short and sharp and give him his chance to run well first-up,” he said.

“There looks to be good tempo in the race looking at early nominations. But providing he’s able to travel in the early to middle stages, I think he will get his chance to be rattling through the line late.”

Childs will reunite with Surprise Baby on Saturday, having lost the ride to Craig Williams last spring.

“He has good history with the horse,” Bedggood said. “It’s good to be able to get his feedback and it’s good to have him part of the team.”

Surprise Baby was purchased as an unraced three-year-old for just $5500 from online auction platform gavelhouse.com, with owner John Fiteni sourcing him sight-unseen from Rich Hill Stud, breeders of memorable 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance.

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