Paul Preusker loves nothing more than winning a country cup so it’s little surprise his eyes lit up when he first heard about Saturday’s A$500,000 Country Cups Final at Caulfield.
Courtesy of victory in the Murtoa Cup and a placing in his hometown Horsham Cup, the highly capable Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel) will represent Victoria’s Wimmera region in the inaugural running.
It was only 12 months ago that Captain Envious burst onto the scene with a flashing third in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Soulcombe on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I find that the first prep at my joint you can get them going but you can pay for it,” Preusker admitted.
“They are better off their second and third prep and I did a lot with him in that first prep and a quick spell wasn’t really good for him.
“He is stronger this time him.”
Captain Envious didn’t trouble the scoreboard in his autumn campaign but a closing second over 1800 metres in the John Letts Cup at Morphettville at his previous start has Preusker confident he is peaking at the right time.
“Everything is smooth and where we want it,” he said ahead of Saturday.
“He’s hit the sweet spot and the timing is very good and he will get his chance.
“I think he is right in his element and weighted well, I don’t think the track will worry him and the 2000 metres ticks the box too.”
Fellow Ultra Thoroughbreds-owned galloper Poison Chalice (NZ) (Savabeel) is also set to line up on Saturday but not likely to be joining his stablemate in the float to Caulfield.
Instead Preusker is leaning towards a rise to 1800m with the unlucky fifth placegetter from last Thursday’s Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series Final.
“He is a very good horse with not too many points and he is in great shape and sound,” Preusker said.
“I’m thinking at this stage the Adelaide 1800 metres will be nice for him.
“He was the one closing off late the last 100 metres, so you’re happy to step them up from that.”
He is also accepted in a 1600-metre Benchmark 80 event at Caulfield.
