A career-best year for Here To Shock continued with a third Group victory in Friday’s A$250,000 Gr.3 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1600m) at Newcastle, and in the process the New Zealand-bred gelding booked himself a ticket into a A$3 million feature in November.
The son of Shocking came into 2024 with seven wins to his name from a 25-start career, with his solitary black-type success coming in last year’s Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo. He has taken that record to a new level over the last six months with big wins in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield, the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben and Friday’s Newcastle feature.
Here To Shock was sent out as a $3 favourite on Friday and was prominently positioned throughout the race, settling in second on the outside of Matcha Latte.
Here To Shock pounced at the top of the straight and gradually got the better of Matcha Latte, edging ahead to win by half a length with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes are now working backwards from the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 5.
“We’re thrilled and very excited,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s now qualified for The Big Dance. Dom Rhoden, our racing manager, alerted us that today’s race was a qualifier for that. Now he’s qualified, and hopefully we’ll be heading in that direction from here.
“It’s going to be a great race for him, a great opportunity and a great incentive. It’s exciting.
“Nash is a hard jockey to beat in a tight finish, and he gave the horse a great ride today. We normally canter this horse on race morning, so I was a bit worried he might over-race today. But he relaxed beautifully for Nash, who nursed him and then the horse gave a great kick.”
Here To Shock has now had 32 starts for 10 wins, seven placings and A$1,053,580 in prize-money.
Rob Slade went to $70,000 to purchase the then colt out of the Lonhro mare Frescoes from the 2019 Cambridge Stud yearling draft at the Book 1 Sale at Karaka. Bred by The Sunlight Trust, Here To Shock is a half-brother to Listed winner Turn The Ace.
