A strategic plan, developed over the course of twelve months, has now come to fruition with Shockletz successfully earning her way into the prestigious Melbourne Cup.
The daughter of the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner, Shocking, secured a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the race famed for stopping the nation by winning the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sporting blinkers for the initial time, Shockletz, ridden by Harry Coffey, was dispatched as the $2.90 favourite and went on to achieve a 2-¼ length victory over Think Giant ($9). Jennivamoose ($6.50) claimed third place, a length behind the second-place finisher.
Trainer Ciaron Maher attributed the mare’s performance on Saturday largely to the decision to apply blinkers.
“I thought she was having a bit of a lend,” Maher remarked.
“I could see her prick her ears in the last 100 metres at Caulfield and Jennivamoose actually went past her.
“I was toying with whether I put winkers or blinkers on, but as (part-owner) Lawrence (Eales) said, Shocking won the Cup with blinkers on, so I thought we would go with them.
“The team has done a great job managing her. It has been a long-range plan to get her into the Cup and back at Flemington, blinkers on, she’ll run two miles, so they can dare to dream.”
Maher, known for his success with winter staying prospects and their progression into Cup races, noted that Shockletz bears resemblance to High Emocean, who finished third in the 2022 Melbourne Cup.
“She’s a lighter style mare that doesn’t take a lot of work, like High Emocean, is clean winded and you just have to have them happy and well,” Maher elaborated.
“The longer the prep, not a lot of work, suits her.
“Thankfully the little tinker, and a good ride by Harry, we were very confident watching the race.”
With Shockletz now having gained a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption, Maher confirmed that her race program can be strategically planned working backward from the November 3rd running of the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
“She won’t be over-raced, she will be on the fresher side,” he stated.
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