Racing: Bazelle has sights set on cups campaign

Late bloomer Bazelle will begin her Caulfield and Melbourne Cups countdown in the Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm today.

But for Kiwi trainer Paul Jenkins there's another "cup" at the top end of the country under consideration.

Bazelle's stablemate, Desert Flight, who also lines up in the listed stakes' race, will be vying for a trip to north Queensland for the A$100,000 Townsville Cup (2100m) next Saturday.

Desert Flight's outside barrier 17 hasn't dampened Jenkins' confidence in the Tattersall's Mile but he said a Bazelle victory from gate eight would be a surprise.

"Desert Flight is fit and well and thriving on racing in Brisbane. Despite the draw I expect him to be in the finish again," Jenkins said.

The 6-year-old easily won over 1800m at his sixth Brisbane start this winter before he finished second under 58.5kg over 2020m at Doomben last start.

"The weight beat him last time and he drops 5 1/2 kilos in the Tatt's Mile," Jenkins said.

"He's got 59.5kg in the Townsville Cup on Saturday week and the money there is good. I'd have to win a group two back home to pick up the sort of prizemoney on offer in Townsville."

While Jenkins eyes a north Queensland trip for Desert Flight, his main focus will be on Bazelle who will be having her first start since winning the Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on January 1.

Bazelle, a daughter of Zabeel, has started only 19 times, for six wins.

"She's been in Brisbane since late April. I gave her a few weeks work before she came over but it's too hard with our weather to get them ready back home for the big races in Melbourne," Jenkins said.

"It's a big step up from an Auckland Cup to the Melbourne Cup but it's a long time since I've seen an easier Auckland Cup win.

"She's fairly forward but I expect her to be run off her feet early but she should be getting home over the top of the slower ones at the finish.

"I'd be surprised if she won and she'll probably only have this run before she goes to Melbourne next month."

Bazelle is on her second trip to Queensland after Jenkins brought her over as a 4-year-old last season.

Last winter was a carefully staged trip to help her development.

"She came here last year to get away from our winter and as an investment for the future," he said.

"She's at a nice age now for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups."

Bazelle had five runs in Brisbane last winter, winning a Sunshine Coast open handicap over 1600m at her third run before finishing fifth in the Ipswich Cup and a handy ninth to Portland Singa in the Caloundra Cup.

Jenkins is trying to emulate the feat of his brother Brian who won the Melbourne Cup in 1998 with another Zabeel mare, Jezabeel.

No rider has been selected for Bazelle in her Melbourne Cup campaign but Rhys McLeod and former Hong Kong jockey Craig Williams are under consideration.

Jenkins' best win in Australia was the 2001 Doomben Cup with King Keitel.

Jason Taylor plans to put a nightmare riding stint in Mauritius behind him by winning the Tattersall's Mile on the Alan Bailey-trained Imperialism.

Taylor returned to riding at Ipswich on Wednesday after Mauritian authorities investigated the veracity of an anonymous letter that led to an inquiry into the origin of his earnings in the country.

After six weeks of inquiries, which led to incorrect reports that he may have been linked with a separate race fixing investigation into two other jockeys, the authorities found he had no case to answer.

The negative experience resulted in Taylor leaving Mauritius and returning to Queensland where for the past two weeks he has been riding trackwork at the Gold Coast in preparation for his city return tomorrow.

"I'm looking forward to getting back into Brisbane racing and I've been overwhelmed with the encouragement and support I have been receiving here," said Taylor.

Taylor replaces successful last start rider Glen Colless who forfeited the mount because of the lightweight of 52kg. Colless will miss the Eagle Farm meeting as other possible rides were too light.

- AAP