Bassett set for 3YO feature

Group One hope Bassett made the perfect start to his three-year-old season at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. The son of Savabeel successfully returned from a break to defeat a hot line-up over 1100 metres.

“He’s a lovely horse,” trainer Peter Moody said. “He’s not big in stature, but he’s big in ability. He’s a horse that’s going to appreciate getting out to a longer trip.”

Moody has his sights set on the Gr 1 Caulfield Guineas with Bassett, but he has yet to finalise a lead-up programme. “It’s giving me a few more sleepless nights than anything at the moment trying to work out how to get a good horse like this to the Guineas in three weeks,” he said. “Do I back him up next week? Do I go straight there or do I look for a race the week before? I’ll have a chat with the connections in the next few days and make a decision.”

Bassett was a winner at his juvenile debut last season before he was put aside after finishing fifth in the Gr 1 JJ Atkins at Doomben. A $60,000 Karaka yearling, he is out of a half-sister to the Gr 1 Diamond Stakes winner and sire Fully Fledged.