New Stakes-Winner for Cup Hero Shocking

Media Release - Wednesday November 13

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.

Ticket To Ride has booked her fare to the broodmare paddock after taking out the Group III Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton .

It was the first black-type victory for the daughter of Shocking who has been in fine form since joining trainer Andrew Carston’s Riccarton stable at the beginning of spring.

The eighth stakes-winner for Shocking, Ticket To Ride has won three of her seven starts for the Canterbury trainer and she looked every bit a winner as she jumped away from the gates on Wednesday.

Ticket to Ride in black and red grabs the win - Race Images SouthShe began like a rocket out of barrier two to take an early lead for jockey Kylie Williams before handing up to Terry Moseley on Shirley Maude.

Ticket To Ride regained the lead at the top of the straight and held out a brave Belle Fascino to win by half-a-head, with a further neck back to Kiwi Ida in third.

“She anticipated the jump pretty well,” Williams said. “She’s not the quickest horse, but if you put the pressure on she will give you everything she has got. It was a good run from her.”

Formerly trained by Keith and Gavin Opie at Te Aroha, Carston said it was a master stroke by her connections to send her south after she had struggled to find form over winter.

“She is a great mare and tough as old boots,” he said. “It was a good decision by (owners) Peter Setchell and Margaret Christian to send her down and this is a fantastic result.

“Keith sent her down in great order and he has been in touch with Peter Setchell the whole way through.

“I’ll be honest, I have probably been a bit soft on her and they keep telling me to keep racing her because she is looking a bit pretty. They were right and she is a great mare.”

Carston was also pleased for jockey Kylie Williams with whom he has developed a great association.

“We have been friends for 15 or so years,” he said. “That’s a Group Three and a Listed race for us both this year. It’s great to have her in the team.” – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Valachi Downs C'bury Breeders Gr3 1400m

Riccarton Park Track: Dead(5) Time: 1:22.70
1
Ticket To Ride
- 7m Shocking (AUS) x Classy Bawn (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: Ms K Williams 55
2
0.1
Belle Fascino
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Playing For Keeps (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S L Wynne 55
3
0.4
Kiwi Ida
- 5m Squamosa (AUS) x Empress Ida (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: C W Johnson 56
4
1.7
Monza Circuito
- 5m Showcasing (GB) x Monzahra (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: M P McCann Rdr: Rohan Mudhoo 55
5
2.2
Tinkalicious
- 6m Nadeem (AUS) x Tinkermia (NZ) (Johar (USA))
Tnr: Ms J Millar Rdr: R J Myers 55
6
2.8
Emily Margaret
- 4m Pins (AUS) x Seven Schillings (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: K & P Hughes Rdr: R J Hannam 56
7
3.9
Livin' On A Prayer
- 6m Redwood (GB) x It's My Sin (AUS) (Success Express (USA))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: R Kozaki 55
8
4.2
Meara Mary
- 4m Echoes Of Heaven (AUS) x Divine Proportion (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: S R Weatherley 55
9
4.6
Sweepstake
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Lottery (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: L J Allpress 55
10
5.4
Feelin The Love
- 9m Savabeel (AUS) x Miss High Heels (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: T & L Prendergast Rdr: A Comignaghi 55
11
6.1
Boundtobehonored
- 6m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Bound To Impress (NZ) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: R T Elliot 55
12
6.2
Caprikosa
- 7m Alamosa (NZ) x Castellina (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: N Wigley & K Milnes Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55
13
6.8
Zabay
- 6m Stravinsky (USA) x Obey (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: C A Campbell 55
14
6.9
Lake Chalice
- 5m No Excuse Needed (GB) x La Madelina (USA) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: S Kennedy & A Furlong Rdr: M Cameron 55
15
8.2
The Sparkle
- 5m Darci Brahma (NZ) x The Dazzler (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: R C Dennis Rdr: S T Collett 55
16
11.2
Shirley Maude
- 6m Fully Fledged (NZ) x Set The Tempo (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Vaughan Rdr: T R Moseley 55
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