G3 Victoria Handicap Winner for Shocking

Media Release - Saturday April 6

Racing on or near the pace has been a hallmark through most of Here To Shock’s career, but the talented New Zealand-bred changed things up at Caulfield on Saturday and powered home from off the pace to win the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).

Here to Shock on his way to winning the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

The accomplished six-year-old drew the outside gate in a field of 11 for Saturday’s A$200,000 feature, and rider Daniel Stackhouse elected to ease back and settle in the back half of the field as Edison set a solid pace in front.

Here To Shock had only four behind him coming down the side of the track, but Stackhouse swooped widest of all around the home turn and went for gold. Here To Shock quickened powerfully down the middle of the track, hitting the lead with 100m remaining and striding clear to beat Seonee by half a length.

The Victoria Handicap was a new career high for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Here To Shock, who had previously won the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo and had also placed in the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).

“He deserved that win,” Stackhouse said. “He’s been ultra-consistent and he tries his best every time he goes out there.

Advertisement

“We just had to take our medicine today from that gate. The pace was on, and he travelled lovely and gave me a sweet ride. He really accelerated off the corner and put them away nicely. It might be a new way to ride him.

“He’s a good galloper and he can really let go. He’s maturing and learning to switch off and settle a bit better. Early on in his career, he was very keen and you couldn’t really slow him down. Now he’s a lot more versatile.”

Sporting the colours of syndicator Slade Bloodstock, Here To Shock has now won eight of his 27 starts, earning more than A$680,000 in stakes.

Rob Slade went to $70,000 to purchase the then colt out of the Lonhro mare Frescoes from the 2019 Cambridge Stud yearling draft at the Book 1 Sale at Karaka. Bred by The Sunlight Trust, Here To Shock is a half-brother to Listed winner Turn The Ace. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Victoria Hcp Gr3 1400m

Caulfield Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:23.90
1
Here To Shock
- 6g Shocking (AUS) x Frescoes (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54
2
0.5
Seonee
- 5m Winning Rupert (AUS) x Mowgli (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 54
3
2.5
The Inferno
- 7g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Spina Rosa (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: J Noonan 55.5
4
3.8
Globe
- 5g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
5
3.9
Mr Maestro
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Let Me Roar (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: H Coffey 54
6
3.9
Buffalo River
- 8g Noble Mission (GB) x Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Celine Gaudray 58
7
4.1
Edison
- 7g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x A Million Tears (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: C Newitt 54
8
4.1
Flying Crazy
- 5g Flying Artie (AUS) x Forever Crazy (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
9
5.1
Beltoro
- 6g Toronado (IRE) x Believabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Teodore Nugent 54
10
6.1
Attrition
- 4h Churchill (IRE) x Queen's Kiss (AUS) (French Deputy (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Beau Mertens 59
11
6.9
Let'srollthedice
- 4g Dundeel (NZ) x Hannah In A Hurry (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
More Reading...
MRC Committee Returned Unopposed
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed the results of the 2025 nominations for the MRC Executive Committee and the Mornington Advisory Group (MAG), which will be formally ratified at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 25 September.
Waller Army Leads Cox Plate First Acceptances
Defending champion Via Sistina is among 21 horses champion trainer Chris Waller still has in contention for the $6 million 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, following the closure of first acceptances on Tuesday.
No Shock in Supernova
The good times keep on rolling for connections of winning machine Here To Shock(NZ) (Shocking) who plundered the inaugural A$1 million Supernova at Pakenham over his favoured 1400m distance for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
Tara Talks Racing – This Week We Talk to Bennett Racing
In the wash up of last Saturday’s great day of spring racing there was no winner that meant more to his connections than Group I MVRC Moir Stakes victory Baraqiel, so our obvious guest this week had to be Nathan Bennett.
Lindsay Park Racing Chasing Kiwi G1
Well-performed Lindsay Park representative Here To Shock is back in familiar territory and thriving in his build-up toward Saturday’s feature sprint at Te Rapa.
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.
Here To Shock Toughs it Out in G3 Cameron Hcp
Lindsay Park’s Ben Hayes made his first trip to Newcastle on Friday and came out a winner, with Here To Shock making light of his top weight in the $250,000 Group III Australian Bloodstock Cameron Hcp (1500m).
Kiwi Bred Here to Shock Wins $1.5million Alan Brown
In-form galloper Here To Shock provided connections with a lucrative payday after a dogged victory in the A$1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
$1.7million Flightline Colt Sets Pace at Keeneland September Day 1
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale is underway and as expected yearlings from the first crop of US Horse of the Year Flightline are lighting up the sale ring, while a colt by Widden Stud shuttler Cogburn’s sire Not This Time sold for $1.6million.