After completing his Tasmanian raid last week, Paul Preusker’s cult hero Steparty returns to the mainland and Group 1 company  at Flemington on Saturday in a bumper edition of the All-Star Mile.
He’ll be chock-full of confidence after breaking his 22-race drought with two wins from two starts on the Apple Isle.
Having bested Tassie star Durazzo in the listed Lyons Stakes on Hobart Cup day, he was sent out a $2.25 second favourite to the same horse in the Hellova Street Stakes on Launceston’s big day.
Jockey John Allen sat at the rear of the six-horse field for most of the 1600-metre journey, still last with 200 metres left to travel but with a lapful of horse. 
Allen navigated to the centre of the track and in a matter of strides the race was over, Preusker’s five-year-old rushing past his rivals and hitting the lead inside the 100-metre mark, soft on the line in recording a three-quarter-length victory over Cartoon Graveyard, with Durazzo having to settle for third. 
It was a win of authority for the gelded son of Artie Schiller, who flattered his rivals 17 days prior, clocking off early in winning the 1400-metre Lyons by just a quarter of a length. 
Dabernig dominates early
Warrnambool’s Tom Dabernig secured training honours at Ararat on Tuesday, recording a winning treble in a fantastic day for the stable. 
Three-year-old galloper Corro ($6.50) got the ball rolling in the opening event, jockey Linda Meech pinching a break in the home straight and holding off fast-finishing favourite Aradeo ($2.90) to break through at start number four. 
Meech positioned the gelded son of Blue Point outside the lead througho the 1200-metre maiden, opening up a commanding lead in the home straight and doing enough to get the prize late. 
Dabernig brought up the earliest of doubles when his Capitalist gelding Villa Capitalista ($2.60 favourite) overcame traffic issues in the home straight to score in the 1100-metre maiden. 
Returning jockey Declan Bates appeared in trouble when bolting for a run straightening for home, but didn’t panic. He presented a gap to his four-year-old, who was only too happy to take it at the 200-metre post, and the race was all but over. 
Fashion World ($21) for Andrew Bobbin was an eye-catcher late but it was all honours the winner in a perfect start for the Warrnambool camp.
Dabernig wouldn’t have to wait long to complete his treble, with last-start Horsham runner-up Kijivu ($2.80) leading every step of the 1300-metre maiden under Meech in race four. 
The Nicconi gelding jumped fast and controlled the race, opening up a big margin in the home straight before paddling late but holding off Hughie’s Spirit ($5.50) and a fast-finishing Live Forever ($6), who came from nowhere late to be involved in the photo. 
Kijivu got the nod, however, graduating from maiden grade at start seven.