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.
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