Preusker: The man who wants a watering system - and maybe the Melbourne Cup
48-hours out from the Melbourne Cup and most trainers with a runner in the $10 million race would be dining out with owners or littered amongst the countless racing functions across the city.
Then there’s Paul Preusker.
He’s some 300-kilometres north-west of Melbourne at McKenzie’s Creek on the outskirts of Horsham in Victoria’s Wimmera, and when this writer rang him, he was in the midst of patching up his own grass track on a Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t know what was smart from me about putting a grass track in,” he laughs.
Later this month he will be harvesting his very own crop of barley.
Understandably the trainer and part-time farmer is therefore cheering for rain and a downpour on Tuesday might just be the greatest gift of all.
Torranzino, who won’t be bothered by a wet deck, will be Preusker’s third runner in seven years in the Melbourne Cup. He had the pressure of saddling the favourite Surprise Baby in 2020 who finished twelfth.
“I’ve had a bit of practice with two goes and I’ll be better for it,” Preusker reflects.
“This fella has had plenty of racing and Surprise Baby was lightly raced going in.
“If I had my time again I’d do it a bit different with Surprise Baby – you need the miles in the legs - and this bloke I’ve certainly made sure that’s happened.
“But you have to forget about it being a Melbourne Cup you just treat it as a two-mile horse race… that’s been my secret.
“The thing that sits in my mind is you need a shit ton of luck!
“But I said to Holly (McKechnie - partner) last night ‘this is almost the best I’ve sent a horse into a race’ and we’re heading into a Melbourne Cup.
“I think I can win it – 100 per cent I can.”
Purchasing the son of Tarzino during the COVID era in New Zealand thanks to the eye Mike Kneebone – you could be forgiven at times for thinking a Melbourne Cup dream was just that.
Taking six starts to win his maiden, it was just last year he finished ninth at Murray Bridge over 2000 metres in July.
When he won at Caulfield back in 2023 a user on X tweeted “Torranzino… lunatic but what an engine” - his trainer for the most part of his career would be inclined to agree.
So, when Preusker declared on radio at the start of last year that the rangy gelding with his ungenerous racing characteristics was the best horse in his stable, at a time when stablemates Steparty and Poison Chalice were kicking goals, you could hear the shock in the interviewer’s voice at his bold prediction.
“He partnered up with Steparty last prep and I wouldn’t say he was the chopping block because in the end I thought he was the better horse but he was just working super,” he revealed.
“I took him to Sydney for a run and it hardened him up and he finally turned into a horse.
“It’s been a long-term job and to win it would be lovely obviously
“But to get in the race and run well and after being able to pick him a long way out means just as much to me.
“If I had my way all races would be staying races, I like training the stayers and they interest me more.
“I buy horses who take time and mapping out … I don’t mind waiting.”
And waited he has.
Torranzino won his way into the Melbourne Cup at start 33 by defeating His Majesty The King’s horse Gilded Water, giving hope to all owners the great Australian dream is still alive - albeit getting slimmer with each year passing.
Royals, sheikhs and business tycoons spend eye watering amounts of money flying horses into Australia to get their hands on the famous three-handled trophy.
Preusker with his trademark laugh simply chuckles at what his owners have spent compared to some of his rivals who seemingly throw blank cheque books at the race.
But for his ownership crew, the majority of whom are littered across the Wimmera, they aren’t intimidated by the challenge.
And don’t be fooled by their trainer who is happy for others to make the headlines - a cheeky beer with friends has been his outlet to deal with the pressure.
“I pretty much hide from everyone… I stay out of it all,” he says of the build-up.
“The horse doesn’t know what he’s worth and he just wants to win now.
“But it would be so lovely for the town.
“Theres plenty of people in town who are dreaming it could happen for Horsham.
“Whether it’s a champion footballer or champion horse that comes out of the town, people love it and that’s what small towns are about.”
Preusker will make the trip with his partner Holly McKechnie, hardworking lieutenant Sonia Brockenbrow and strapper and track rider Emily to Flemington on Tuesday.
He already knows he’ll watch it from the Mounting Yard on the big screen not undeterred by having watched from the same vantage point in previous attempts.
As the trainer and managing owner, there’s plenty on the line for a tick over three minutes worth of work - $4.5 million in prizemoney to be exact – but a long-range futures bet might also add to the celebrations and cause a bruise for bookmakers.
“You’ve got to put the pressure on yourself so that’s been another incentive,” he laughed.
“But I am just so appreciative to get another go in the race.
“Every time you saddle up in the race you absolutely learn and to get a third go is an absolute bloody treasure.”
As for whether a win on Tuesday will change his life?
“It won’t change my life but I’d bloody love to install a new watering system.”
So for a man who has spent a lifetime mending his own track and waiting on the rain - now, perhaps, it’s time for the heavens to open for him.
