Racing on or near the pace has been a hallmark through most of Here To Shock’s (NZ) (Shocking) career, but the talented New Zealand-bred changed things up at Caulfield on Saturday and powered home from off the pace to win the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).
The accomplished six-year-old drew the outside gate in a field of 11 for Saturday’s A$200,000 feature, and rider Daniel Stackhouse elected to ease back and settle in the back half of the field as Edison (Fastnet Rock) set a solid pace in front.
Here To Shock had only four behind him coming down the side of the track, but Stackhouse swooped widest of all around the home turn and went for gold. Here To Shock quickened powerfully down the middle of the track, hitting the lead with 100m remaining and striding clear to beat Seonee (Winning Rupert) by half a length.
The Victoria Handicap was a new career high for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Here To Shock, who had previously won the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo and had also placed in the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).
“He deserved that win,” Stackhouse said. “He’s been ultra-consistent and he tries his best every time he goes out there.
“We just had to take our medicine today from that gate. The pace was on, and he travelled lovely and gave me a sweet ride. He really accelerated off the corner and put them away nicely. It might be a new way to ride him.
“He’s a good galloper and he can really let go. He’s maturing and learning to switch off and settle a bit better. Early on in his career, he was very keen and you couldn’t really slow him down. Now he’s a lot more versatile.”
Sporting the colours of syndicator Slade Bloodstock, Here To Shock has now won eight of his 27 starts, earning more than A$680,000 in stakes.
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 (NZ) (Turn Me Loose).
