NZbred ‘cheapie’ set for big cup run
RACING
WELLINGTON: For the past 12 months, Horsham, Victoria trainer Paul Preusker has meticulously focused on one race for his star stayer, Surprise Baby.
The fruits of that planning will be revealed today when the lightly tried Kiwibred contests the Melbourne Cup for the second time.
The knockabout horseman saddled the son of Shocking to finish fifth last year and 12 months on believes the lessons learned from that race will hold Surprise Baby in good stead for the 3200m test.
Since last year’s cup, Surprise Baby has purposely had just two starts, to be wellplaced in the world’s greatest handicap.
With 54.5kg, last year’s cupwinning jockey Craig Williams in the saddle and barrier 7, the stars are aligning for the bargain buy who was sold as an unraced 3yrold in New Zealand.
For $5500, owner John Fiteni has already enjoyed plenty of thrills as the horse has banked $A998,735 ($NZ106,072) in prizemoney in his 13 starts.
He rounded out his cup preparations by running second in the Feehan Stakes (1600m) then a luckless ninth in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
‘‘He was nice and strong to the line in the Turnbull. Craig [Williams] got off him and was thrilled,’’ Preusker said.
‘‘Hopefully in the Melbourne
Cup we can get a position and get good cover this year. With this in mind we’ve done things a bit differently which has been about teaching him to settle.
‘‘The fact he settled so well on the fence from barrier 1 in the Turnbull Stakes was a real confidencebooster.
‘‘It means he can get cover in the run and not overstride.’’
Preusker said the paddocktrained 6yrold had grown mentally in the past year and was a more complete racehorse.
‘‘He’s a bit bigger but he’s not a big horse. He weighs in at 480kg. It’s just that he has that big stride.
‘‘He’s not what people expect when they see him.’’
Preusker elected not to run Surprise Baby again between the Turnbull Stakes and Melbourne Cup.
‘‘He’s got plenty of miles in his legs and he’s fit and ready to go,’’ he said.
Surprise Baby was one of the favourites in New Zealand TAB fixedodds betting last night at $8.50.
Other fancied runners included favourite Tiger Moth at $7.50, Anthony Van Dyck at $8.50, and Sir Dragonet and Prince of Arran at $10.
Southlandowned The Chosen One was at $26. — NZ Racing Desk