Moore Flags Distance Rise For Bedazzled Babe

WHEN speed machine Bedazzled Babe kicked off her career with eight straight victories it was reasonable for her first time trainer Brett Moore to think the trade was a relatively straightforward one.

But after enduring a string of frustrating setbacks with the daughter of Fabregas following that winning sequence, Moore admits to now being much more versed in the swings and roundabouts of the training caper.

"It tests you out that's for sure … I've got a pretty good handle on the highs and lows already," Moore said.

Enjoying a spectacular run to begin her career with some thumping best of meeting wins, Bedazzled Babe's career was grounded last October following a near record 18.38 330m Richmond win.

"She hurt her fibula out of that which had her out for around three months," Moore said.

"Then when I brought her back from that she dislocated a toe which had her out for another two months.

"In hindsight I rushed her back to get her ready for a race in Queensland at the start of the year and she hurt her fibula again. After that she tore a pad open and I've had issues with her blood as well since – it really has been one thing after another. It's taught me a bit."

Following two smart Gosford 388m wins last month, Bedazzled Babe continued her career resurgence with a sizzling 22.53 win in her heat of the Ladbrokes Red Dog Series (400m) at The Gardens last Friday.

It was win 11 for the daughter of Fabregas from a 20 start career but most importantly to Moore confirmed his star conveyance was back to her brilliant best.

"To be honest I thought she had no hope of beating Blue Bronte – how could you the way she's been going?" Moore said.

"But she (Blue Bronte) missed it and when I saw my bitch find the front I knew she'd be hard to beat.

"With some age and maturity she's come back a lot stronger which you can see in her run home times. And it's not just that, she's much more settled in the kennels and not expending so much energy."

Following Friday night's $5,300 to-the-winner Red Dog Final Moore intends to give Bedazzled Babe a post-to-post at The Gardens in readiness for a potential 515 metre hit-out.

"That's the plan," Moore said.

"In fact, going in this series was a last minute thing. I was going to trial her post-to-post two Fridays ago but the trials were cancelled. So after missing that run I decided to throw her in this race."

Bedazzled Babe has drawn box six in Friday night's final, facing off against a list of crack sprinters chasing the hefty first prize.

"It's going to be tough – I'll probably close my eyes early and open them at the 272m boxes and see where we are," Moore said.

"There's just so much speed and from six it's hard to see her getting to where she needs to be.

"But if she can get within a length or two of the leaders somehow she can be in the finish. Blue Bronte is going to be hard to beat. I reckon she's about the quickest dog early that I've seen. She's a freak."

With a breeding future firmly on the cards for the regally bred just turned three-year-old, Moore says that Bedazzled Babe's career is closer to the end than the beginning.

"That's her future so we don't want to overdo things," Moore said.

"It's a pipe-dream but if she goes well enough in the next few weeks we might have a go at the Million Dollar Chase with her. You never know!"