By Colin MacGillivray

Horsham trainer Paul Preusker is confident gelding Surprise Baby has what it takes to win the Melbourne Cup as he prepares for the ‘race that stops a nation’.

The five-year-old earned a place in Australia’s most prestigious race with a win in The Bart Cummings at Flemington earlier this month.

It is the first time Preusker has had a runner in the Melbourne Cup and he said the feeling was a special one.

“It’s something you set out in life to do, so I’m grateful and feel very lucky to have a chance to do it,” he said.

“I’m sure there are a lot of trainers out there with good horses that can do the job, but getting an opportunity to get in is the hardest part.

“I’ve never had a runner in the Melbourne Cup before, so it’s a pretty lucky story.

“I’ve got a good team of horsemen around me and it’s a good story for the whole stable.”

Surprise Baby was installed as a favourite to win the Melbourne Cup by some oddsmakers after his victory at The Bart Cummings.

Preusker said being among the favourites for the race brought added pressure, but he would focus only on what he could control.

“Initially it did put some pressure on, but it’s about a man, a stable and a horse,” he said.

“All you can do is concentrate on your horse and let everything else do its own thing. You’ve just got to forget about all that and make sure everyone keeps doing the best thing for the horse.”

Preusker said he was confident Surprise Baby was capable of a win on November 5.

“I’ve got a good feeling but there is a lot of luck required,” he said.

“For me it’s just about getting him there mentally right.

“I’ll be concentrating on settling him and if I do that it gives my rider the best chance possible.

“There will be no trying to get him fitter or trying to squeeze any last minutes into him, it’ll just be about getting him there on the day settled and ready to do his job.”

Part of Surprise Baby’s preparation for the Melbourne Cup included an appearance at the Horsham Cup on Sunday.

Preusker said racegoers were excited to catch a glimpse of the offspring of Shocking and Bulla Baby.

“We just took him for a day out at the races,” he said.

“We had him trot and canter around just for some exercise more than anything.

“It was a chance for people around the area to come get a look at him, because I think people are a bit excited by it. We’ve still got a few weeks to go and so far, fingers crossed, there haven’t been any issues, which is nice heading into any race, let along the big one.”

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