The late, great Bart Cummings famously held the belief that a horse required at least 10,000 metres of racing before it could contend for the Melbourne Cup, a philosophy that often saw the legendary trainer launch his spring campaigns in the Aurie’s Star Handicap.
While those traditional training methods have largely disappeared, Saturday’s Flemington meeting could still prove a crucial stepping stone towards this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Ciaron Maher will use the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) as the launching pad for Shockletz’s bid to secure a place in Australia’s greatest race.
The mare is being aimed at the two key Melbourne Cup qualifying races, the Archer Stakes (2500m) on September 12 and The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 3, with the winner of each receiving a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.
Ciaron Maher Racing National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull said the stable had mapped out the campaign well in advance.
“We’re trying to get her into The Archer,” Turnbull said.
“That’s our little plan, try and qualify her and then if that doesn’t work, there is The Bart Cummings.
“It’s been a long-term plan to work back from those particular races and get her in there.
“Her brother and her family have raced at those types of distances, and we feel she has got that quality.”
Shockletz, a sister to Horrifying, continued to develop through the staying ranks last season before being given a carefully managed preparation this campaign.
She had three runs during the early winter before a brief freshen-up designed to have her at her peak for the upcoming staying features.
“I’m really pleased with her, and she’s freshened up really well,” Turnbull said.
“She only had two weeks off and while she’s first-up she had three runs and she’s not going to be lacking fitness.
“Last prep we were conscious of going one too many and giving her the right amount of time out to have her for this prep.
“We’ve always had time for her and hopefully she repays us.”
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