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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Paul Preusker is adamant one time boom horse Steparty is on the verge of an overdue win and hopes he’s made the right decision by venturing to Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Trainer Paul Preusker (Pic: Racing Photos)

Steparty was a winner of his first five starts before placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas a year ago but lost his way in the second half of last season resulting in him being gelded.

That seems to have done the trick because Preusker, who trains at Horsham, said on the back of a Group 1 placing at Caulfield last weekend the four-year-old is well placed in the Group 3 $1 million Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m).

“We had a few different ways we could go, the Cranbourne Cup or into the west, but it’s not all that far to drive and I’m not putting him on a plane and it’s good money,’’ he said.

“It’s not really in my style to back them up but he’s putting his hand up and he’s bouncing. When he’s ready to go you get behind him and give him a go.

“A little bit more ground is going to help him.

"This isn’t going to be an easy job by any stretch of the imagination but he’s on the way back I reckon.”

The four-year-old, $7 with TAB on Wednesday, started $31 when he ran into third placing behind Kimochi in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Preusker said it was unfortunate Steparty had to settle as far back as he did in that race after he jumped so well but jockey Daniel Moor had to take some evasive action after things got a bit tight in the early stages.

He’d expect new jockey Blaike McDougall to be able to take advantage of the draw and settle the horse closer as he did when placed behind Another Wil at Flemington two weeks earlier.

“He was really game, he just had to go back a little bit more than we wanted,’’ he said.

“It was going to get messy. He was strong late and I was rapt with him, but more importantly on Monday morning he was spot on so hopefully I’m making the right move.”

So far Preusker’s only venture to Sydney has been with Group 1 winner Lunar Fox who finished unplaced in the Rosehill Guineas back in 2021.

While there’s attention on Steparty going into the Gong, Preusker warned stablemate Poison Chalice is a genuine chance if he’s able to sneak into the field as third emergency.

He said the five-year-old ran as well as he could under the circumstances when fourth behind Light Infantry Man at Flemington on November 7 and barrier one suits him.

“I’d like him to get a run, if he gets one he’s a good tough little horse and gets the mile,’’ he said.

💥 BRAVE SMASH G1 WINNER 💥

What a performance by KIMOCHI taking out the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes - congrats @GaryPortelli and @YulongInvest, who purchased her for $2.2 million earlier this year @inglis_sales - that was effortless elegance, what a thrill 👏 #YarramanPark… pic.twitter.com/VEee86mUiM

— Yarraman Park Stud (@yarramanpark) November 16, 2024

Steparty runs third in the Sir Rupert Clarke

“He’s got a fair bit to offer. He just had to go too far back in that race, he closed off okay but it was a forget about run really.

“He’s pretty much the same horse as Steparty, could be a fraction better.”

Both Poison Chalice and Steparty have raced in Queensland, and worked clockwise, so Preusker has no concerns about the Sydney direction.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Kembla Grange meeting