Here To Shock gearing up for 2025 The Supernova
The Hayes brothers—Ben, Will and J D—are primed for another crack at a Victorian slot race, with stable stalwart Here To Shock again heading their plans.
He resumes in Saturday’s Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, which the team views as the ideal lead-up to the $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham next month.
Here To Shock famously delivered Lindsay Park a one-two finish in the inaugural Supernova, and Ben Hayes made it clear the stable is aiming him at the race again.
Holding their own slot gives the operation direct control over his participation.
The gelding last raced in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m), finishing sixth, and warmed up with a tidy Flemington jump-out on November 21.
“This should be a nice prep run,” Hayes said.
“We purposely freshened him to target this with the Supernova in mind, and then we might consider going over and trying to go back-to-back in the Group 1 over in New Zealand.
“It’s the kind of race he can be very competitive in.”
His overseas success earlier this year, when he won the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, underscored his ability to peak when travelling.
Lindsay Park has a proven New Zealand strike rate, with Long Leaf winning the Karaka Million 3YO Classic and Conqueror finishing second the following year.
The stable will also send Torture—winner of the Debutant Stakes—to the Karaka Million 2YO Classic.
Run Harry Run also lines up in the Testa Rossa, arriving off a strong win in the Ararat Bowl earlier this month.
“But when we got the heavy track, we decided to be patient and he came out and won the Ararat Bowl, so it was good to get him back in the winner’s stall,” Hayes said.
“He actually has pretty good form behind Globe, and he’s been racing very consistently.
“It’s obviously a big step up in class to what he’s been running in, but he’ll run a nice competitive race again and he’s in great order.”
If you're thinking of having a bet on the Testa Rossa, check the latest odds via the top Australian betting sites.
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...