Everyone's breathing easy now
The Age
Friday June 5, 2009
The connections of Queensland Derby favourite Shocking are looking to top and tail the racing season with classic winners. Andrew Eddy reports. WHEN Whobegotyou rushed down the middle of the Caulfield straight last October to record a famous Caulfield Guineas victory, his stablemate, the fellow three-year-old Shocking, was a two-start maiden who was puzzling trainer Mark Kavanagh.Shocking, who was by Street Cry and purchased around the same time as another Street Cry youngster, Whobegotyou, by owner Lawrence Eales, made his debut 20 days before Whobegotyou in May last year but after a reasonable fifth placing in a Ballarat maiden, he was given a short spell.He returned with a third placing in a Sale maiden (after being backed from $5 to $2.25) and was again immediately turned out for a spell, while his stablemate was making his run at the Caulfield Guineas.Shocking had shown Kavanagh enough ability for Eales to seek out his dam, Maria Di Castiglia (by Danehill), to add to his growing broodmare team. But the horse was not showing the natural improvement they had hoped."We found out that he was allergic to dust," Kavanagh said yesterday. "He was being hampered by always having a runny nose, so we changed his bedding and he's been right ever since."I've never had one that's been allergic to dust and I understand that it's unusual, although (Kentucky Derby winner) Street Sense (also by Street Cry) also suffers from it."Kavanagh eventually changed the bedding for all his horses at his Flemington stable, swapping the sawdust mix with a straw mix that was treated with oils.Shocking was given a good break from the track and eventually came back to racing in March, when he ran second at Ballarat before a win at Bendigo, a second at Caulfield and then most impressive victories at Flemington and Caulfield.Eales paid a late-entry fee of $13,750 for Shocking to contest tomorrow's $500,000 Queensland Derby, but all involved with the colt were rueing the return of Queensland's rain this week.Jockey Michael Rodd said: "I've got no doubt he's the best horse in the race, but it might turn out to be a slog on that track and the best horse doesn't always win."Eales: "It's going to be tough going on that slosh pit. It's about as heavy as it can get."Kavanagh: "It's going to be very wet and you just don't know how he'll handle it. He's travelled up well, but the track is a query for sure."The positives out of a Derby win tomorrow are obvious for a valuable colt like Shocking, who Rodd claims is more of a stayer than Whobegotyou.A win or second placing would fully qualify the colt for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups in the spring. Whobegotyou qualified with his second placing in the Victoria Derby."Shocking is showing a lot of potential, but he's more of a staying type than Whobegotyou, who is more brilliant and is a great horse," Rodd said. "Shocking's still on the up though, so there might be more to come."Shocking's Queensland Derby attempt will round out a remarkable year for Eales, who was unknown as a racehorse owner 12 months ago.He had his first metropolitan runner when Whobegotyou came from near last to win a two-year-old race at Moonee Valley on June 21 last year.Eales, who grew up among horses in North Queensland, only began buying thoroughbreds in 2007 and instead of relying on the eye of a so-called expert, he did it all himself."I like doing it all myself and I'm having a bit of luck at the moment, so it's certainly enjoyable," he said this week.Eales confirmed that after Shocking had galloped a few times at Flemington, he sought out his dam Maria Di Castiglia to buy. "I liked what I had and went to see if she was available and managed to pick her up. She's in foal to Street Sense and I'm pretty hopeful."The owner had earlier rued not chasing Whobegotyou's dam, Temple Of Peace, who was sold for just $5250 after Whobegotyou's second race start.In 2007, Eales had been in Sydney with his earth-moving business and decided to drop in at the Inglis sales complex at Randwick, where he found Whobegotyou, who had been passed in. After looking at the Street Cry colt he made an offer and took him home for $19,500."I liked his breeding and thought he was an absolute bargain," he said.Since that wise buy, he has purchased a further 20 or so horses - some yearlings and some broodmares - from various sales around Australia. Although Whobegotyou has already won nearly $1.5 million in stakes, Eales has resisted throwing his money around, spending on average about $20,000 for each purchase.For Rodd, a Derby win by Shocking would give him a fifth elite race win for the season and move him to just one behind Nash Rawiller as the group 1 champion rider for the season.The leading group 1 rider is likely to be determined at Eagle Farm tomorrow when three of the final four group 1 races for 2008-09 are run.The final of 67 group 1 races in Australia for the season is the $500,000 Winter Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm on June 20.Rodd, who has four group 1 wins to date, rides Absolut Glam in the Stradbroke Handicap tomorrow, but his T. J. Smith Stakes mount, Bally Duff, will be a scratching after the two-year-old's plane from New Zealand broke down and he was left stranded at home.Rawiller, who has ridden a career-best six group 1 winners this season, does not have a ride in the T. J. Smith but is on Bank Robber in the Stradbroke and Larry's Never Late in the Derby.The race is also on for the leading group 1 trainer of the season, with Caulfield trainer Mick Price tied with Sydney's Gai Waterhouse with six wins apiece.Price saddles up Rightfully Yours in the Stradbroke and Old Jock in the Derby, while Waterhouse will have just two Stradbroke runners in Bank Robber and Royal Discretion.Peter Snowden is next with five elite winners this season, but does not have a group 1 runner this weekend.
© 2009 The Age
