Shocking Winner for Baker

Media Release - Wednesday July 11

New Zealand-bred galloper Shock Alert recorded his fifth career win when successful over a mile on his home-track on Wednesday and in the process provided Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker with his 100th winner in New South Wales for the season.

ShockingThe Kiwi conditioner has made his presence felt since relocating to Sydney in August 2011 and currently sits sixth on the New South Wales trainers' premiership by wins, trailing powerhouse stables such as Chris Waller, James Cummings, Kris Lees, Peter and Paul Snowden and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Positively ridden by stable apprentice Jean Van Overmeire, Shock Alert staved off the challengers to provide Baker with his second winner for the day and 100thfor the season in his adopted State.

"It's quite fitting that Jean rode him," Baker said. "He's a big part of the team. He's doing a super job and it has been a break-out year for him too.

"I've got a great team of staff back home from top to bottom. It's not easy at this time of the year. There is a lot of hard work and cold mornings, so it is nice for Shock Alert, who has been in the stable for a while, to win that city race."

Advertisement

A son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, Shock Alert was bought by Baker for NZ$110,000 at the New Zeeland Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale and the four-year-old has won close to A$130,000 to date.

"I thought he was fit and well but his form on wet tracks had been a bit patchy," Baker said. " Back on top of the ground , the key to him has been fine weather this past week.

"I think we will put him up in trip even further, up to 2000m, and he has definitely got a few more wins left, so he has been a good horse."

It is the third season in succession that Baker has trained a century of winners in New South Wales, with the effervescent horseman having prepared 102 winners nationally this season and prizemoney earnings in excess of $5.3 million. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Surprise Baby Out to Emulate Dad in the Melbourne Cup
Winner of the $400,000 Group II Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March, the $5,5000 Gavelhouse purchase Surprise Baby earned a ticket to the $8 million Melbourne Cup on November 5 when he stormed home to win Saturday’s $500,000 Group III The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.
More Success for Rich Hill Stallion Shocking
Rich Hill stallion Shocking has had a wonderful start to the season with his progeny to the fore in both Australia and New Zealand.
Brave Blood
With the Group I Queensland Oaks and Derby to both be run at Eagle Farm this Saturday, after appalling weather forced racing to be abandoned last week, there is no chance this year of one horse winning both, but a filly that achieved the feat in 1988 is playing a key role in this year’s carnival.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
New Stakes-Winner for Cup Hero Shocking
Melbourne Cup hero Shocking has been enjoying success this spring with his classy stayer Surprise Baby, who was fifth in the Melbourne Cup, the Rich Hill Stud based sire also producing a new Group III winner in New Zealand on Wednesday.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
Ninth SW for Shocking
Free-going southern galloper Camino Rocoso led his rivals a merry chase when he dominated proceedings from the front to take out the first of the Trentham features on Saturday, the Group III Barneswood Farm Trentham Stakes (2100m).