Rain to suit Hezashocka in the 2025 Zipping Classic

A timely burst of mid-week rain brought welcome relief to the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable as acceptances were finalised for Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.

The team has locked in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) as Hezashocka’s goal, but his fortunes are closely tied to track conditions.

The stayer has struggled for much of his career on firm tracks, with his best results coming when there is genuine give in the surface.

Although Caulfield was posted as Good early on Wednesday, the rating coincided with heavy rain sweeping across the metropolitan area.

More showers are forecast in the coming days, but it’s unclear how much will affect the course.

“He hasn’t won for a while and he’s had something like 20 starts on good ground, for no result,” Price said.

“He needs to get his toe in. It’s a $750,000 race and he did run in a $1 million race three starts ago, so I’ll probably send him around because he’s in good order.”

Hezashocka earned prizemoney when finishing last in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) before again finding conditions unsuitable in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m).

When striking a wet surface during Cup week, he stayed on only fairly when finishing sixth in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).

His most recent win came on soft ground in Brisbane in June last year.

A full field of 14 runners has accepted for the Zipping Classic, named in honour of the four-time Sandown hero who dominated the race from 2007 to 2010.

Hezashocka will meet several key rivals including Kovalica, Smokin’ Romans, Alenquer, Brayden Star, Star Vega and She’s A Hustler.

Should he perform strongly, Price said the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) may be his next assignment.

The trainer noted Pakenham has been racing on the wetter side lately.

“It has been a wet track and racing like a heavy track, so that would suit him,” Price said.

“But by the time he gets to it, it might firm up a bit.”

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