Million-Dollar Milestone for Here To Shock (NZ)

A gritty win in Friday’s A$250,000 Group Three Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle took Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) past A$1m in prize-money.

Here To Shock was bought by Slade Bloodstock for just $70,000 from Cambridge Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2019. His 32-race career has now produced 10 wins, seven placings and A$1.05m, which is more than 15 times his purchase price.

The seven-year-old is set to have a chance to add much more to that bank balance, with Friday’s feature carrying a golden ticket into the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick in early November.

“We’re thrilled and very excited,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “He’s now qualified for The Big Dance. Dom Rhoden, our racing manager, alerted us that today’s race was a qualifier for that. Now he’s qualified, and hopefully we’ll be heading in that direction from here.

“It’s going to be a great race for him, a great opportunity and a great incentive. It’s exciting.”

The Cameron Handicap was the third Group Three win for Here To Shock, who had previously won the Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield in April and the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben in May.

He showed plenty of courage and class in Friday’s win, tracking the front-running Matcha Latte (Maurice) until the home turn and then outfinishing him down the straight to score a narrow but authoritative win.

“Nash Rawiller is a hard jockey to beat in a tight finish, and he gave the horse a great ride today,” Hayes said. “We normally canter this horse on race morning, so I was a bit worried he might over-race today. But he relaxed beautifully for Nash, who nursed him and then the horse gave a great kick.”

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 nine wins include the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m). Turn The Ace was a $30,000 purchase from Karaka 2020 and has earned $250,856.