Rain to suit Hezashocka

[Wandering Eyes]

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is hoping for some significant rain ahead of the Zipping Classic at Caulfield.

The rain that fell at acceptance time on Wednesday for the Caulfield meeting was music to the ears of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable.

The Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) on Saturday is the contest the Price and Kent Jnr stable have picked out for Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking).

The problem is the stayer has a terrible record on dry ground and is far better performed when there is some give.

The track was posted in the good category when acceptances were declared on Wednesday morning, just as a heavy rain band descended on Melbourne.

There is some rain forecast for the remainder of the week, but how much effect that will have on the Caulfield track remains to be seen.

“He hasn’t won for a while and he’s had something like 20 starts on good ground, for no result,” Price said.

“He needs to get his toe in. It’s a $750,000 race and he did run in a $1 million race three starts ago, so I’ll probably send him around because he’s in good order.”

Hezashocka collected $45,000 when he finished last in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield last month before finding the firm track against him in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on October 29.

At his most recent outing on his preferred soft ground, Hezashocka found the trip too far when a fading sixth in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on the final day of Melbourne Cup week.

Hezashocka’s last victory came on a soft track in Brisbane in June last year.

A field of 14 stayers is set to contest the Zipping Classic on Saturday, named after the horse that won the race on four consecutive occasions at Sandown from 2007 through to 2010.

Among Hezashocka’s rivals on Saturday include Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park), Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines), Alenquer (Adlerflug), Brayden Star (Twilight Son), Star Vega (Lope de Vega) and She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High).

Price said if Hezashocka runs well on Saturday then the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on December 13 could come under consideration.

The trainer has noted the Pakenham surface had been retaining moisture in recent meetings.

“It has been a wet track and racing like a heavy track, so that would suit him,” Price said.

“But by the time he gets to it, it might firm up a bit.”

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