Steparty's spring goals confirmed

One of the Spring Carnival's most exciting prospects, Steparty, is back in training.

The unbeaten colt bypassed the Taj Rossi Series Final, having been the pre-post odds-on favourite, and instead spent 10 days in the spelling paddock before returning to work last Friday.

"We gave him 10 days off and he was bouncing around, so I thought we best get him in before something happens," trainer Paul Preusker said.

"I just thought he'd come off his tucker just a little bit … but a few days later he was at his top again.

"But sometimes you can go that one trip too many and they don't turn up."

The son of Artie Schiller has won his three career starts and owners have knocked back substantial offers to instead campaign throughout the Spring Carnival.

Steparty's spring preparation, which will be centred around the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, will kick-off on September 9 at The Valley in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m).

Bel Esprit, Light Fantastic, Rich Enuff and Brutal have won the McKenzie Stakes, with Preusker set to follow the traditional Guineas path thereafter.

"He is going along really good, I am rapt with him, so he won't take long to come together," Preusker said.

"There are no weaknesses about him, I have got a broad range of horses here, but he is the biggest and the strongest.

"It will be interesting, even though he hasn't had long off, his second race prep … I think last prep he had seen the gates three times before he raced."

Steparty is currently a $26 chance with Sportsbet for the Cox Plate.

In other stable news, Preusker said last-start Caulfield winner Torranzino will head to The Valley next Saturday, while Queen Elizabeth placegetter Captain Envious has also returned to work in the past fortnight and could be kept to shorter distances in the spring.

The Preusker stable is enjoying a hot streak at the moment, with 10 winners in the past two-and-a-half weeks.