Queensland Derby on the cards for Horrifying

[Wandering Eyes]

Mark Kavanagh is hoping to get Horrifying (NZ) (Shocking) to Brisbane for the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and follow a proven path taken by former Derby winner Magicool.

Providing Horrifying takes no ill effects from his victory at Flemington he will be in Brisbane next week to contest the Queensland Derby. 

Horrifying won his second race at Flemington on Saturday, taking out the Off The Track Community Trophy (2000m) to book a place to Brisbane. 

Now Mark Kavanagh is hoping a flight from Melbourne can be arranged after a flight last Tuesday was called off after Queensland Health ordered anyone travelling needed to undertake 14-days quarantine. 

Negotiations are continuing between Queensland Health and Air Horse Transport’s Chris Calthorpe about getting a flight to Brisbane on Tuesday night where 16 horses are booked to fly. 

Kavanagh said after Saturday’s victory if a flight cannot be organised, he would look into trucking Horrifying to Brisbane, providing suitable arrangements can be sorted. 

Ridden by Jamie Kah, Horrifying, the $4.40 favourite, got up in the last stride to defeat Reuber ($10) by a short-half-head with French Moon ($10) 1-½ lengths third. 

Kavanagh said he had used Saturday’s 2000m race in preparation for the Queensland Derby with Magicool, winner of the double in 2015. 

Horrifying appreciated the wide-open spaces of Flemington and Kavanagh said the three-year-old will appreciate the 2400m of next week’s Derby and even out to 3200m, the trip his sire Shocking won the Melbourne Cup over in 2009. 

“He’s been very, very frustrating,” Kavanagh said. 

“He’s got a lot of ability, but he’s just taken a long time to mature. 

“There was obviously going to be a ton of pace so I just left it up her. 

“Jamie is a great jockey.” 

Kah, who completed a double taking her Melbourne tally to 88 for the season, said the next preparation for Horrifying will be important. 

“It doesn’t mean that he’s not going to go onto bigger and better things this prep, but he’s got that big baby brain at the moment,” Kah said. 

“You’ve got to delay things as he can do a lot wrong.” 

Bred by Rich Hill Stud Director Alan Galbraith, Horrifying was purchased out of Rich Hill’s 2019 Karaka Book 2 draft by Eales Racing for $70,000.

He is a son of multiple Group One winner Shocking, whom Kavanagh trained, out of the winning Red Ransom mare Zelt, who was successful up to 2100m.

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