Victorian raider Steparty ready to fire on back-up in The Gong

Trainer Paul Preusker is keen to have two runners in The Gong including last-start Group 1 placegetter Steparty.

Steparty has been well supported to win The Gong. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Racing Photos via Getty Images

The ultimate gear change has Steparty back on track with the one-time boom galloper now ready show he’s got his mojo back in a surprise crack at the Group 3 $1m The Gong (1600m) this Saturday.

Steparty won his first five starts during the 2023 winter and spring but failed to fire in the back half of his three-year-old season and was gelded as a result before this spring.

The son of Artie Schiller has been edging closer to a breakthrough result this spring with an excellent third behind Kimochi in last week’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes the strongest indication yet of his resurgent form.

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It encouraged Horsham trainer Paul Preusker to send him to Kembla Grange on the seven-day back this weekend.

“He is coming up and we will have a go,” Preusker, who scratched Steparty from Saturday’s Cranbourne Cup, said.

“It’s not really my style to back them up but when they are ready, they are ready and that’s him right now.”

The Gong will be the first time Steparty runs over a mile in more than a year and just the second time in his career.

Kimochi does enough late to hit the front for her maiden Group One win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes! 🙌@[e-mail]/B7ZMus0UTP

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 16, 2024

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His only previous run at the trip was when he finished third behind Griff and Veight in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last spring.

“We will have another go at the mile. I couldn’t have him any better,” Preusker said.

“I think he got the mile in the Guineas, he probably just didn’t turn up (as good as he can) that day and ran third.

“If he didn’t get the mile this time, he never will because he is super sound and is in the right spot at the right time so I am pretty keen to chuck him on the float.”

Steparty has been a significant firmer into $7 for The Gong with Blaike McDougall booked to ride.

Preusker was eager to have two starters in the Illawarra Turf Club’s richest race on turf with Poison Chalice also in the run.

Trainer Paul Preusker is keen to have two runners in The Gong. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images

But the son of Savabeel will need three scratchings to make The Gong field after he was stranded as the third emergency following the final field announcement on Wednesday.

“Hopefully he can get a start,” Preusker said.

“He is a nice horse and would get the mile no problems.

“Last start he just got back from the draw but he will be right.

“It would be good to see them both go up there.”

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The Gong is being run for the sixth time with a different stable and jockey claiming the race every year to date.

Ciaron Maher, who won the race last year with Detonator Jack, has taken a heavy-handed approach to his defence with 60kg topweight Gringotts ($5) joined by Griff ($81), Berkshire Shadow ($15) and Vivy Air ($14).

Glory Daze ($34) is the first emergency.

The Paul Niceforo-trained Territory Express is a $4.80 favourite with Jason Collett booked to ride.

Originally published as Victorian raider Steparty ready to fire on back-up in The Gong