Paul Preusker’s stable star Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking) is out of the autumn carnival, ruling him out of All-Star Mile contention after sustaining an injury to his hock on Monday.

Further tests are being performed in the coming days to ascertain the severity of the injury and the next steps that need to be taken.

“He will be in comfortable, safe and in good hands at the vet clinic,” a post on Paul Preusker Racing’s Facebook page stated.

“We thank everyone for their well wishes in advance.”

Surprise Baby was sitting in nineteenth place on Monday evening with close to 900 votes for the All-Star Mile.

Stable apprentice Tatum Bull only tweeting yesterday – “he has come back bigger, stronger and hungry to avenge his luckless spring” in a campaign to help Preusker’s galloper get into the final field at The Valley on March 13.

Surprise Baby finished twelfth in the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup starting a $6 favourite.