Big Payday for Here To Shock (NZ) in The Supernova

Karaka graduate Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) continues to get better and better with age and took his career to another new level with victory in Saturday’s A$1m The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham.

Here To Shock was a $70,000 purchase by Slade Bloodstock from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He has had 35 starts for 12 wins, seven placings and A$2.4m in stakes – almost 40 times his purchase price.

The gelding was five years old when he scored his first black-type win in the A$200,000 Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo in April of 2023. In his six-year-old season, Here To Shock added the A$200,000 Group Three Victoria Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield and the A$300,000 Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m) at Eagle Farm.

He has continued to go from strength to strength since turning seven, winning the A$250,000 Group Three Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle and following that up with the two biggest paydays of his career in the A$1.5m Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill and Saturday’s inaugural slot race at Pakenham.

Ridden by expat Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse, Here To Shock sat in second place before cruising up alongside the leader early in the home straight.

Here To Shock kept advancing and powered to the lead, then dug deep when challenged by Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel) in the final 50 metres and clung on for a narrow but authoritative win.

“He’s an old marvel,” said Will Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Ben and JD. “We had our eye on this slot race from a long way out and selected him to run in our slot today.

“Getting back to those paddocks in Euroa, he loves the country environment. He had the earmuffs on today to keep him relaxed, and keeping him relaxed has been key to him going through the grades.”

Stackhouse has been struck by the change in Here To Shock’s attitude as he has matured.

“I rode him two and a half years ago, and he was just a young kid, just out of control really,” he said. “He’d sweat up, he’d pull, he just did so much wrong, but he always had a lot of ability. It has been a great job by the stable.”

Here To Shock has earned more than A$1.5m in stakes this season alone, from only five starts dating back to August.

Here To Shock has been an outstanding advertisement for the quality and durability of the progeny of Shocking. The Rich Hill Stud stallion has two yearlings catalogued for Book 1 of Karaka 2025 and another 11 in Book 2.

Lot 227 is out of the Listed winner and Group One-placed Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly), whose promising daughter Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor) has won the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m), Group Three SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) and Group Three Sunline Vase (2100m). She also placed in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Lot 933 is a full-brother to the seven-race winner and A$700,000 earner Horrifying (NZ) (Shocking).

Vendor	Cambridge Stud
Purchaser	Slade Bloodstock (Victoria)
Breeding	Shocking – Frescoes
Sale	Lot 48, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $70,000
Bred by	The Sunlight Trust