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Spring campaign starts at Mornington

The Mornington Cup will go a long way to shaping the spring campaign of Captain Envious.

CAPTAIN ENVIOUS.
CAPTAIN ENVIOUS. Picture: Racing Photos

It has taken a while, but Paul Preusker says Captain Envious is now the seasoned stayer that can be targeted towards Australia's best staying races. 

The Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup are on Preusker's mind as Captain Envious heads towards start number 20 in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday. 

Success in Saturday's race will give Captain Envious a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October, while Preusker is also planning to start the stayer in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington next month to win a start into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. 

Preusker has always regarded Captain Envious highly and at start number six, coming off a benchmark 70 win at Geelong, he threw the gelding into the Group 3 Queens Cup (2600m) during the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival in which Captain Envious finished third behind Soulcombe

Subsequent campaigns have all been about toughening Captain Envious to stand the rigours of training and racing and Preusker believes the gelding is now at that point. 

"He's slowly putting it together and is becoming street smart and tough now," Preusker told RSN. 

"We're looking forward to seeing where he can get to this prep. 

"Those first couple of preps he would weaken on me but he's ready to be a horse this time and you look at him and I think I could tighten him up a bit more." 

Captain Envious won the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) last December and more recently the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield. 

Now he's got to step up to 2400m, a trip he won over at Geelong as a younger horse, but now he has got to do it against more seasoned stayers. 

"He's got to answer the question whether he can get right out in trip or not," Preusker said. 

"He's certainly got the constitution there. He's a sound horse and heading in the right direction. 

"I don't have any problems at 2400 (metres), can he run out a tough two miles, I guess not many can, but I'd like to find out." 

Preusker said plans are simple for the remainder of campaign, head to Mornington and win and then onto Flemington for the Andrew Ramsden. 

"We'll have a go on Saturday, and that ticks a box, and rain, hail or shine, we'll have a go at the Ramsden which will tick another box," Preusker said. 

"I think that would be enough for him and then he can have a light time for a while, but once we get through those runs, we'll know our path." 


Racing and Sports



Mornington Saturday, 20th April 2024

1m3f205y TURF SOFT
AUD $300,750

Sportsbet Mornington Cup (LR)

AUD $300,750
Type: OPEN
1m3f205y TURF SOFT
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 9. ESTI FENY (HUN) 9yo G
PIGEON CATCHER (IRE) - EJTIHAAD (IRE)
DANIEL STACKHOUSE
MATTHEW SMITH
$31
55kg
MCS Racing (Mgr: Mrs M A Smith), G J P Van Ameyden, Ms S J Nuttall, Denns Racing (Mgr: D L Yopp), M T Collins, A G Porter, Mrs J D Porter, G J Sharp, Dr E K Attebo, A K Cree, Silkybros (Mgr: Dr S P Silk), R Hanmer & C J Dunn
2nd 8. LITTLE MIX (AUS) 5yo M
MAHISARA (AUS) - GIRLS ALOUD (AUS)
JYE MCNEIL
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$8.5
55.5kg
YES Bloodstock (Mgr: B F Sokolski) & Balmerino Racing Partnership (Mgr: J S Rosham)
3rd 10. STRAWBERRY ROCK (IRE) 7yo G
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) - STRAWBERRY VODKA (GB)
DECLAN BATES
CIARON MAHER
$6.5
55kg
Cunningham Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: M Cunningham), Coco's Crew, F J Welsford, Mrs S J Welsford, M P Barker, The Golden Greeks Racing (Mgr: S Hrambanis), C Schembri, J M Simmons, Ms S M Fitzgerald, Strategic Racing (Mgr: M A Butler) & C S White

Sales Information

4th 5. DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) 6yo M
PRIDE OF DUBAI (AUS) - THE PARIS SHRUG (GB)
BLAIKE MCDOUGALL
MICHAEL KENT
$11
58.5kg

Sales Information

5th 2. FUTURE HISTORY (GB) 6yo G
SHOWCASING (GB) - LIKELIHOOD (USA)
ETHAN BROWN
CIARON MAHER
$9
60kg

Sales Information

6th 7. NEREUS (NZ) 4yo G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - EUDORA (NZ)
MICHAEL MCNAB
SHAUNE RITCHIE & COLM MURRAY
$5.5
56kg

Sales Information

7th 1. CAPTAIN ENVIOUS (NZ) 5yo G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - MY CENTRAL (ITY)
THOMAS STOCKDALE
PAUL PREUSKER
$10
60kg
8th 4. FIRST IMMORTAL (AUS) 4yo G
CHURCHILL (IRE) - STORM SIREN (AUS)
LUKE CURRIE
M & L KAVANAGH
$6
59kg

Sales Information

9th 14. MYSTERY ISLAND (JPN) 7yo G
VICTOIRE PISA (JPN) - MYSTIQUE (GER)
HARRY COFFEY
SHANE JACKSON
$16
54kg
10th 3. GEAR UP (IRE) 6yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - GEARANAI (USA)
JAMIE MOTT
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$16
60kg

Sales Information

11th 6. HOPEFUL (FR) 7yo G
MOTIVATOR (GB) - MONST (IRE)
WINONA COSTIN
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$16
57.5kg

Sales Information

12th 13. GOOD OIL (NZ) 5yo G
DALGHAR (FR) - SACRED COUNTRY (NZ)
BILLY EGAN
ANDREW FORSMAN
$16
54kg

Sales Information

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