By Craig Kerry
Co-trainer Ben Hayes concedes the Canterbury Stakes is stronger than he expected, but he’s confident the fitness and career-best form of the well-travelled Here To Shock can make him a force in the exciting group 1 on Saturday at Randwick.
The weight-for-age 1300m race has attracted a crack field, including Sportsbet favourite Magic Time ($4), the resuming Sunshine In Paris ($6.50) and Stefi Magnetica ($8), as well as Ceolwulf ($9) and Switzerland ($5).
Nash Rawiller and Here To Shock win the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill in October.Credit: Getty Images
Here To Shock ($7.50) comes from the famous Lindsay Park operation in Victoria, now run by brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes, and is coming off a breakthrough international group 1 for the partnership in New Zealand.
In his first overseas trip, the seven-year-old dominated the Waikato Sprint (1400m) by four lengths on February 8, giving jockey Nash Rawiller a win with his first ride back after five weeks out with a shoulder injury. The combination continues on Saturday with the benefit of an inside draw in barrier two.
Ben Hayes said the Canterbury Stakes was always their ideal next target for Here To Shock but admitted the field was tougher than expected.
“We thought it would be a race that would come up not as strong as it has, but a lot of people diverted,” Hayes said.
Here To Shock wins the $1 million Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham in December.Credit: Getty Images
“But I still think our horse is going very well. The form out of his [New Zealand] race is strong, with [third-placed] Savaglee coming out and running really well in the Australian Guineas.
“We are very happy with our horse; he’s in career-best form and we can’t fault him. We are really excited to have a crack and see where he’s at over that sprint trip.
“He’s drawn ideal, he’s a horse who puts himself on pace and loves those fast tempos, and Nash knows him so well.
“I think 1400 is probably his pet trip, but I think still 1300 [is good]. He’s nice and fresh, and he thrives off four weeks between runs. He had an easy tick-over trial, which is a recipe that’s worked with him. We think he’ll be competitive in a really hard race, a genuine top-three, four chance.”
Here To Shock succeeded in similar circumstances in the spring, taking out the 1500m Cameron Handicap at Newcastle, then the 1400m $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes next start at Rosehill. His other performances on the road include winning the group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben last year.
“Travelling is a good thing for him; I think it stimulates him,” Hayes said.
Rawiller hopes the fitness and 1400m form of Here To Shock, which had short breaks either side of his win in the $1 million Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham on December 21 two starts ago, will be an advantage if predicted showers eventuate.
“He’s been very well managed by the Hayes boys, spacing his runs and just keeping him so happy,” Rawiller said.
“He’s just turning up to the races in a rich vein of form, and he’s holding it well. He comes back 100m in trip, but probably the conditions on Saturday, with wet ground, I imagine will make the 1300m more like 1400m.
“He’s been tactically brilliant ever since I’ve been riding him. Early days he was probably a work in progress. He can take up a position and barrier two gives us options.
“He’s fit and he’s got that toughness built into him. Hopefully a few of the big guns are lacking that this early in their campaign.”
The Hayes brothers are also likely to run Tycoon Star at Randwick in the group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m). Third in the group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes last start, Tycoon Star is also entered for the Sires’ Produce at Flemington. Ben said the team was on weather watch and did not want a heavy track for their Golden Slipper hope.
“I think a soft track is no problem for him, so it would be nice to see how he goes against the best, to see if we are going to be competitive in the Slipper,” he said.
“We’d love to get in there fourth up ready to go. His run in the Blue Diamond was the eye-catcher. It was a slowly run Diamond on a day probably not suited to backmarkers, and he hit the line really well. He’s bounced out of it and is thriving.”
He said stable star Mr Brightside, which runs in the All Star Mile at Flemington on Saturday, would next be set for the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 22.
Rawiller, meanwhile, rides Tentyris for Anthony and Sam Freedman in the Todman.
“Second in the Blue Diamond is terrific form and another stride, he wins it,” Rawiller said. “He’s come up in terrific order. I rode him work on Tuesday and he seemed to have no trouble this way of going.”
