It’s Steparty time in the Wimmera.
Oh and don’t bother ringing Horsham trainer Paul Preusker or the owners of Steparty as the Artie Schiller thriller is not for sale.
The boom two-year-old remained unbeaten, three for three, with a barnstorming performance at Flemington on Saturday to cement Caulfield Guineas and potentially Cox Plate ambitions.
Preusker, who declined seven-figure offers for the colt after his last win, said Steparty would head to the paddock now and prepare for a spring campaign.
“Loved it, a little bit of pressure early, he dropped the bridle, a real good turn of foot so ticked all the boxes for me, I dare say Dean (Yendall) will be happy, we’ll go home and soak it in,” Preusker said.
“I’m not going to get busy, to me he’s probably done enough. Our job’s done.”
Steparty walks in! ????♂️ pic.twitter.com/aBDigCelTL
— 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) June 17, 2023
Steparty was ridden like the best horse in the race and justified the confident steer, surging clear late under a hold to win by 1¼ lengths from equally impressive Blazing Harry.
South Australian visitor Bolted In finished third, beaten 4¾ lengths.
Sunsource bungled the start but finished off well through the field to grab fourth.
Preusker said Steparty would “swallow up” 1600m next campaign and “probably get out to 2000m”.
Steparty, $51 chance with TAB in a pre-nominations Cox Plate market, should be close to favourite when Caulfield Guineas markets populate next season.
“We won’t get too busy but he’s certainly the right horse for the job (Caulfield Guineas), he’s a proper horse,” Preusker said.
“I’ve had some good tough horses but nothing like this fella, it’s new ground to me … I can only see him improving … with a little bit of a let-up he can only get better mentally.”
Dean Yendall takes a look over his shoulder aboard Steparty. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images
Yendall, who has piloted Steparty to victory the past two Flemington starts, raved about the exciting colt.
“I actual said to (clerk of the course) trotting back in with the pony, ‘I think this is the best one I’ve had’,” Yendall said.
“He just does everything in his stride, he actually relaxed beautiful out there into the wind.
“He’s going places … a nice 2000m at The Valley (Cox Plate) would be good in the future.”
Steparty won on debut at Ballarat last month and then bolted in at Flemington by 3½ lengths a fortnight ago.