The big name nominations for the 2021 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley keep rolling in, with 2020 Melbourne Cup favourite Surprise Baby a left field entrant for the $5 million contest.
Trainer Paul Preusker has indicated that Surprise Baby will hit the All-Star Mile first up, similar to last preparation where he resumed over the mile in the Feehan Stakes, narrowly going down to Humidor.
After a long period of struggles, the veteran HUMIDOR is back in the winner's circle, taking the G2 John F. Feehan Stakes for new trainer Chris Waller (@cwallerracing). @SkyRacingWorld pic.twitter.com/IJV6CAkdip
— TVG (@TVG) September 5, 2020
“No reason why he can‘t be at his best in the All-Star Mile,” Preusker said.
“He likes The Valley, only had a few starts there and should have won the Feehan (Stakes) twice, at a mile fresh, I think that‘s a good start.
“He‘s an easy horse to train, he puts everything into his runs, so you can have him pretty right for whatever you want to do.”
Preusker is confident the popular galloper can bounce back after a disappointing performance as favourite in last month’s Melbourne Cup.
“I don‘t think it’s any factor, he doesn’t know how old he is and he’s really lightly raced and very sound, there’s a lot of pluses to it,” Preusker said.
“He was an immature horse and I suppose very mentally fragile early … the penny has really dropped for him now.
“He goes to the paddock and puts his head down and just eats, eats, eats, whereas the season before he‘d pace the paddock up and down, he’s just come of age now really.
“I‘m 100 per cent sure it is (best to come) … there’s a few good races for him (in autumn) but we’ll target the All-Star Mile and plan from there.”
Surprise Baby is currently a $26 chance for the 2021 All-Star Mile.
