Aiming to spring a surprise
THE anguish of missing out on a Melbourne Cup spot with Surprise Baby by a matter of millimetres has disappeared for Paul Preusker, who has plotted his next move with the emerging stayer.
Surprise Baby missed out on a guaranteed start in Australia’s greatest staying race after a narrow defeat to Steel Prince in an incredible battle in The Andrew Ramsden in May, but Preusker said he’s excited by the challenge of trying again.
Preusker hopes to secure a Melbourne Cup berth for the five-year-old gelding by winning The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington in early October.
It’s been a lifelong dream of Preusker to have a Melbourne Cup runner, and Surprise Baby could most likely be that horse, but the Horsham trainer will be prepared to wait another year if he feels his stable star isn’t ready.
“That’s just life. To be honest, I’m probably glad. He’s still quite a young and fresh horse,” Preusker said of Surprise Baby’s agonising Andrew Ramsden defeat.
“I’d rather him try to qualify on his own merits again this prep.
“If he’s not coming there’s next season.
“Probably if I had the free pass, you go in a bit relaxed, maybe. It keeps you on the ball, I suppose.”
But Surprise Baby, who won the Adelaide Cup at just his sixth start, is giving Preusker every indication a big spring campaign awaits, which is set to kick off in next Saturday’s Feehan Stakes at the Valley.
The Bart Cummings four weeks later will be his second run.
Preusker is hoping he doesn’t need to use the Hotham Handicap on Derby Day to qualify Surprise Baby for the Cup.
“He’s come back well,” Preusker said. up, really
“He trialled last week, he’s had a couple of jumpouts now, not so much for fitness but getting him back out.
“I don’t know the depth of (last week’s trial) but for a horse who’s fit already, to trial so impressive over 800m, that’s the horse he is.
“He’s not one I haven’t backed up so it will be new territory. You never dislodge anything but I’m hoping I can get the deal sealed (in The Bart Cummings).
“I think the key will be the sharp mile run for him, they won’t muck around and he’ll probably gain more fitness out of going at that tempo around Moonee Valley than plugging out a 2200m or 2000m (race) somewhere.”
Preusker realised instantly Surprise Baby was a special horse — “the very first gallop I thought ‘hello, we’ve got something here’ — but the Adelaide Cup victory reaffirmed the his assessment.
Preusker is confident Surprise Baby will be a worthy contender against the internationals in the Melbourne Cup should he get there. “For sure, he’s an amazing horse,” he said.