Horsham trainer Paul Preusker was denied a fairytale when Surprise Baby finished an unlucky fifth in this month’s Melbourne Cup, but was quick to bounce back with the feature double at Ararat last Sunday.
Preusker kicked off with Stealthy Lucas ($3.10) in the $70,000 bet365 Ararat Gold Cup (2000m).
With Dean Holland riding, Stealthy Lucas made good use of his inside gate and was able to box-seat behind the speed, set by Tre Dieci.
From there the son of Lucas Cranach got a lovely run, hooking out to mount his challenge before the home turn.
On straightening, Stealthy Lucas set out after the gallant Tre Dieci, who was boxing on strongly.
Stealthy got the bob in right on the post, taking his career record to 15 starts for four wins, four minor placings and $138,510.
Preusker made it a race-to-race double when he captured one of the Wimmera’s richest events, the $82,000 Programmed China Bowl (1300m), with recent acquisition Marcel From Madrid ($4.80).
With Damien Thornton in the saddle, the Sepoy gelding took up a midfield position behind a hot speed battle.
In a masterstroke from Thornton, he elected to hug the fence around the turn, weaving a winning passage through the field.
Marcel From Madrid packed too many punches for the Terry and Karina O’Sullivan-trained Revlis, scoring by a half-length.
Delight for Di and Dane
Stawell-based Dianne Taylor and Dane Smith were the other district trainers to enjoy a share of the Ararat Cup day spoils.
 Taylor took out the 1300-metre maiden with emerging sprinter The Stylist ($1.35 favourite), ridden by Jarrod Fry.
Smith’s dour stayer San Remo ($4.40) took out the marathon Ararat RSL Sir Brudenell White BM70 Highweight Handicap (3800m), lumping the huge impost of 70kg under Clayton Douglas.
Their shout
A big shout out to the Horsham boys Craig Garland, Gough Dumesny, Dave McCluskey, Craig Bennett and Frank Giampolo after their horse Nature Strip silenced his critics and absolutely trounced a quality field in last Saturday’s $2 million Darley Sprint Classic (1200m). Well done, guys!