A return to racing on a roomier circuit is expected to suit the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) when he heads to Bendigo.
After three starts at Caulfield this campaign, Hezashocka heads to the Gr.3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday.
Poor draws have contributed to poor performances from Hezashocka this campaign, but the stayer has come up with barrier four and will be ridden by Damien Oliver.
At his most recent outing, Hezashocka finished seventh to Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) in the Gr.1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 14.
That performance followed a second-last finish in the Gr.3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) after being posted wide from barrier 16.
“Those races where he has drawn badly and has gone back in 2000-metre races, have been at Caulfield, and he hates Caulfield, which we’ve really only just found out,” Price said.
“He’s a big Flemington horse and we’re assuming he’s a big Bendigo horse.
“The horse is going good, but he now has to go and win.”
Hezashocka is yet to win at 2400m, but at his most recent outing at the trip, finished a close second to Right You Are (So You Think) in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in April.
Right You Are won a ballot exemption that day to run in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), finishing fifth to Without A Fight (Teofilo), beaten just over four lengths, on October 21.
“He got beaten a short-half-head at a mile-and-a-half in the Mornington Cup by Right You Are and if he holds that form, he has to be a chance,” Price said.
“He whacks away and is a hard horse to catch, but he’s drawn a gate, he has D Oliver onboard over a mile-and-a-half.
“He’ll be around them somewhere at the finish.”
Hezashocka is rated a $7 chance in latest markets that sees Interpretation (Galileo) as the $4.20 top elect from Suizuro (Real Impact) ($5.50) and Luncies (Iffraaj) ($6.50).
