More Success for Rich Hill Stallion Shocking

Media Release - Wednesday December 18

Rich Hill stallion Shocking has had a wonderful start to the season with his progeny to the fore in both Australia and New Zealand.

Derby Horse: Shocking’s Tibetan (pink cap) storms home late in Sunday’s Listed 3YO Salver at Ellerslie.Stakes horses for the dual Group 1 winning Street Cry stallion have included Gr.3 Lexus Bart Cummings winner Surprise Baby, who also put up a gallant performance in the Lexus Melbourne Cup.  Shocking’s three-year-old filly Vegas Jewel has an exciting future following second placings in the Gr.3 Wakeful and Gr.2 Ethereal Stakes, while his New Zealand stakes performers have included Ticket To Ride, Tibetan, Soleseifei and Zelenski.

Last weekend Shocking’s great run continued with the Andrew Campbell-trained Tibetan putting forward his Derby case, this time with a bold second placing behind Scorpz in the Listed 3YO Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday.

“Our Melbourne Cup for Tibetan is the (New Zealand) Derby in March and I think we’re looking a real good chance,” said Campbell.

“The 2400m is sure to be to his likening, he just drops his head and he’ll stay all day.”

Campbell said he will take a less than traditional path to the Derby.

“We’re going to freshen him up and run in the Karaka Mile. On paper he couldn’t win, but we’ll put the blinkers on and if there’s solid pace he’ll be running home strongly.”

Campbell then intends for Tibetan to contest the Avondale Guineas (2100m) mid February before taking his place in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.

DefibrillateAt Flemington on Saturday rising staying star Defibrillate  recorded his fifth win from seven starts in the ‘Summer On The Roof Garden’ Handicap(2530m). He looks another potential Cups contender for Shocking.

“He is definitely going to make a class stayer,” said winning jockey Billy Egan.

“He is improving with each run and I think this is just the tip of the iceberg and he has a long way to go. He is still very raw and has only had seven starts.

Other talented progeny of Shocking’s to watch include Nerve Not Verve who scored a runaway win at Moonee Valley last time out for trainer Mike Moroney over 2040m. She is a half-sister to Gr.1 Auckland Cup winner Glory Days and looks an exciting and progressive staying prospect for her sire.

In Queensland the David Vandyke-trained Startled made it two-from-two when winning over 1400m by 7.75 lengths December 8 at the Sunshine Coast. Vandyke when interviewed post-race was full of praise for the raw ability and exciting speed shown by Startled, a colt he bought from Rich Hill’s 2017 Karaka draft to be his Melbourne Cup horse. The dream now continues, with Vandyke currently plotting his 11 month path towards the 2020 running of Australia’s great race.

News from Rich Hill Stud

Advertisment
More Reading...
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Saturday Double Caps Great Week for for Shocking
Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson was a happy man as he reflected on a wonderful week for his resident stallion Shocking while sipping on his Sunday morning coffee.
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.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
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).
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.
Can a Cup Winner Sire a Cup Winner?
In the aftermath of lightly-tried stayer Surprise Baby’s victory in the Group III Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, a ballot-free exemption race for the Group I  Melbourne Cup (3200m), it was hard not to spare a thought for Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.