Preusker back to Melbourne Cup thanks to Torranzino

Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Melbourne Cup after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Geelong Cup on Thursday.

Connections of the son of Tarzino roared as their charge raced past hot-favourite Gilded Water.

Preusker saddled Surprise Baby to finish a luckless fifth in the 2019 Melbourne Cup won by Vow And Declare and admits he was too cute with the son of Shocking when attempting to snare the 2020 Melbourne Cup off a two-start campaign.

“I’m super excited to get another go, that is what it is all about,” he said. “Celine’s has got that job done for me.

“He has been an unbelievable horse all the way through. He has wanted to do things his way, I have hurdle schooled him, steeple schooled him, we have locked horns plenty of times, but eventually he won and he is a happy horse now.

“Everyone knows if you can get a chance, you’re a chance and you learn every time you get into the Cup. I am grateful for the opportunity to go again.

“He is pretty much there now, I will just have to keep the weight of him. He is a horse that does well. We will just keep him ticking over he will do plenty in between, but we won’t ask him for anything more.

For Celine Gaudray, just having a ride in the Melbourne Cup is a dream in itself.

“It is so surreal, ever since I was a little girl, I have always watched the Melbourne Cup, to get a ride is unbelievable, and this horse really deserves his spot,” she said.