Surprise Baby hasn’t been seen at the track for over 12 months when the $6 2020 Melbourne Cup favourite finished 13th behind Lloyd Williams owned Twilight Payment when trained by Paul Preusker.
Now under the watchful eye of trainer Gavin Bedggood, Surprise Baby was required to complete a jump out in front of the stewards in order to have a ‘not to race’ restriction lifted and be able to return to the track.
An original plan had been to trial the 7 year old a week earlier at Cranbourne. However heavy rain meant that trials were moved to the synthetic track and a trip to town was required in order to get the best from the returning galloper.
"We chose to skip that (Cranbourne) and the Melbourne Racing Club were kind enough to let us take him over to Caulfield this morning," Bedggood told RSN.
"He wasn't out to break any records, it was just about a day out for him and get that embargo off his name."
With the all clear passed by the stewards, Surprise Baby could now return to the track as soon a next Saturday with a Caulfield meeting being eyed up.
"Jordy (Childs) gave good feedback and we were happy with what we saw," Bedggood said.
"We just let him come out and find his feet. He travelled midfield and he (Childs) said he did everything he asked of the horse. He just kept improving and worked through the line comfortably."
"He had a nice, healthy blow post his trial, but that will bring him on a bit. All going well, he may run in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes next Saturday at Caulfield."
Bedggood said further on in the interview that an Autumn Carnival assault is now likely with the former Preusker runner.