The Ciaron Maher stable has a year-long strategy for Shockletz that they are hopeful will pay off at Flemington.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup has long been a target for the daughter of Shocking, who himself was a Melbourne Cup winner.
However, Shockletz must first qualify for the Cup, a task the Maher team hopes to accomplish this Saturday in the Group 3 Archer Stakes over 2500 metres.
The Archer Stakes offers a direct ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, scheduled for November 3.
There are other ‘Cup qualifier’ races at Flemington, including The Bart Cummings on October 3, and the Geelong Cup and Moonee Valley Gold Cup later that month, all providing winners with ballot exemptions.
Twelve months ago, Shockletz was in excellent form, winning four races with Harry Coffey aboard.
Her last win of that successful period was in October, with her only other win since occurring at Pakenham in December.
Coffey returns to the saddle on Saturday, and Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, confirmed that blinkers will be added.
“We’ve put some headgear on her,” Turnbull said.
“She travels well, but when they quicken, she’s flat-footed, and then she picks up again.
“We are third-up, a mile-and-a-half, essentially, and a bit of headgear, it should play to her favour, plus she likes big tracks and this has been a 12-month plan for her.
“We were conscious of what she did two preps ago and then we freshened her up to be on fresher legs, so that if she does qualify, she has not been taxed come the bigger races.”
The Maher team has a history of success with stayers who compete through the winter and then make their mark in the Melbourne Cup.
Turnbull mentioned Persan, Grand Promenade, and Berkshire Breeze as examples of horses that have followed this path.
Stablemate Jennivamoose is also entered for The Archer, having secured a fourth-place finish in the race last year.
Jennivamoose has had only two starts since then, finishing third on both occasions at Caulfield, and Turnbull believes she will benefit from the increased distance.
“She ran enormous at Caulfield last time,” Turnbull said.
“She’s had two wide gates this prep and had to go back and made really good ground.
“We’re looking forward to her getting out to this trip.”
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