3 minute read
Surprise Baby starts his bid for a free entry into the Melbourne Cup when he has his first run since the Adelaide Cup over 2600m at Flemington.
Adelaide Cup winner Surprise Baby is set to run at Flemington as a prelude to an attempt at a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup.
Surprise Baby runs over 2600m at Flemington on Saturday in the lead-up to the revamped Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 25.
The Andrew Ramsden has been shortened from 3200m and is restricted to three, four and five-year-olds with the winner gaining a start in this year's Melbourne Cup.
Four-year-old Surprise Baby won the Adelaide Cup at his sixth start and has not raced since that 3200m-victory on March 11.
Trainer Paul Preusker said the four-year-old had been kept in low-grade work since and was ready to run on Saturday.
He said Surprise Baby lived in a paddock and did road work while basically enjoying himself for a month before knuckling down to improve his fitness.
"He's not fully wound up for this but I'm happy enough and he's not going to hurt himself fitness-wise and he'll come out the other side a bit better," Preusker said.
"The race in three weeks time, that's the goal. We're after the free ticket.
"Fitness-wise and his fighting weight, they're all lining up again."
Surprise Baby has been burdened with 60kg on Saturday courtesy of his Adelaide Cup win after jumping from a rating of 72 to 100.
Preusker said he probably would have liked a harsher rise in the ratings.
"It's a shame they didn't give him a couple more points because then I wouldn't have to be going around," Preusker said.
"It would have been nice to give him a break but he's probably a horse that is better off being in work anyway."
Surprise Baby is one of 27 nominations in Saturday's race which include Bondeiger , in-form jumper Killarney Kid and Steel Prince who will be aiming for a fourth straight win for Anthony Freedman.
Preusker also intends to start Indian Thunder in a benchmark 84 handicap over 1200m and Bling Dynasty in an 1800m handicap on Saturday.
"They're both going well and look ready for that next step," Preusker said.
