Million-Dollar Mark Within Reach for Here To Shock (NZ)

An autumn Group Three double has brought $70,000 Karaka purchase Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) within reach of a million-dollar milestone.

The six-year-old prevailed in a pulsating finish to Saturday’s A$300,000 Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben, lifting his career earnings to A$885,180 – almost 14 times the price paid by Slade Bloodstock to purchase him from the Cambridge Stud draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019.

Long renowned for his consistency in good company, Here To Shock has risen to a new level this autumn with two Group Three victories in his last three starts. He won at that level for the first time in his career when he took out the Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield in early April, and now he has ventured to Queensland and produced an even better performance.

Here To Shock was well ridden on Saturday by Michael Dee, who settled in sixth before unleashing him with a potent turn of foot in the straight. He rushed to the lead and looked like he was home free, but then had to withstand a desperate late dive from Freedom Rally (Rubick). Here To Shock was up to the task and clung on to win in a photo finish.

“I thought I might have just held on, but he didn’t want a metre longer,” Dee said. “It was a good tough effort, but I’m glad the winning post came up.”

Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Here To Shock has now had 29 starts for nine wins and six placings.

The Hayes team are now keen to give him the opportunity to run in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 15.

“It is hard to do, but he’s a horse in form and that is a force to be reckoned with,” JD Hayes said.

“Photo finishes haven’t really been going our way over the last six months, so I was glad to see him get the head down today. It was a brave effort by the horse, terrific ride and just super.

“It is great for Rob Slade and all the owners. This horse has really gone to another level and I was pleased he was able to cope with the speed today and he was strong through the line.”

Here To Shock is one of two stakes winners out of the Lonhro mare Frescoes. She is also the dam of fellow Karaka graduate Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), whose eight wins include the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m). Turn The Ace was a $30,000 purchase from Karaka 2020 and has earned $214,756.

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