Shock returns to Victorian racing

[Wandering Eyes]

Well-travelled gelding Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) will have his first start in Victoria for close to four months when he lines up in the $1 million Supernova slot race at Pakenham on Saturday.

After racing in Queensland during the winter, the Lindsay Park-trained galloper ran a gallant second to Another Wil on Memsie Stakes Day but was soon back on the road again.

He enjoyed a successful stint in New South Wales during the spring, winning the Gr.3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and the lucrative Alan Brown Stakes at Randwick, before he finished midfield in the Big Dance at his most recent start on Melbourne Cup Day.

“He’s had a very good campaign, he was a very good campaign on the road, striking a number of times interstate,” said Will Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Ben and JD.

“He came out of the Big Dance with a little bit of a heart arrhythmia, so we’ve just given him a bit of time between runs. He did a really nice jumpout at Flemington last week, so we go to the race with a nice bit of confidence behind us.”

The Hayes boys will mount a dual assault on the Supernova, with Arkansaw Kid to also take his place in the race. The stable will be hoping for a bit more luck with him this time after he was narrowly beaten in the Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes in his previous start.

“It’s the second time this prep that he’s got nailed on the line, so it was a little bit hard to watch, but I think he did really run out a strong 1400 (metres) on a Heavy 10 as well, a testing track,” Hayes said.

“We’ll get a better surface this weekend and I’d just like to thank Cavallo Park Stud for the opportunity to race in their slot.”

Hayes said there isn’t much between their two runners looking to strike in The Supernova.

“I think they’re both going to make their own luck being forward of midfield,” he said.

“Here To Shock we know likes to bowl along at a decent pace and Arkansaw Kid, I think the key to him running a strong 1400m is settling early, so I think if they both get the right runs in transit, they should be fighting out the finish.”

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