Leading apprentice Zac Lloyd might be booked to ride Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, but the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained stayer isn’t guaranteed a start in the A$2 million contest.
Currently sitting 15th as the first emergency in the order of entry, the stable says it’s elected to travel him up north regardless and wait on a possible scratching.
On a Caulfield Cup path, the New Zealand-bred gelding bypasses a run in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in order to race down in grade and hopefully increase his prizemoney earnings which currently sit at A$1,023,503.
“We have to go to Sydney despite being first emergency and take the punt,” said Kent Jnr.
“So there is a chance he could get up there and not get a run but it’s a race worth $2 million, so it’s worth taking the punt.
“But in saying that, for A$2 million, there might not be many scratchings, so hopefully it works out well for us.
Connections are hoping the six-year-old can return to the winner’s stall after only beating one runner home last start in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m), where he raced wide after jumping from the outside gate.
The son of Shocking had run well first-up when strong late in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m).
The OTI Racing-owned gelding has also performed well previously in Sydney, most recently finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) behind Dubai Honour in the autumn, as well as finishing runner-up in last spring’s Rosehill Cup (2000m).
“The horse is going really good, very happy with him, he ran super first-up and I think you can forget last time,” he said.
“If he gets even luck he’ll run really well, he’s gone well in Sydney before, so fingers crossed.
“I think when he’s back and wide he gives up, the jockey gives up and we were kind to him late.
“You can put a line through his last start, he was off the track the entire race.”
Sportsbet has Hezashocka at $20 for the Hill Stakes and $51 in its futures market for the Caulfield Cup.
