New Zealand
Bagot on radar for Shockletz
Progressive staying mare Shockletz proved a class above her rivals when running out a strong winner of the Ray White Pakenham & Officer Handicap (2500m) at the Pakenham standalone meeting on Saturday.
The two-kilo claim of apprentice Luke Cartwright aided the daughter of Shocking, who was carded 60.5kg topweight, with Shockletz having two lengths to spare on the line from runner-up Leonchroi.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher, Shockletz raced well through the winter months and had a relatively light spring.
The four-year-old raced without luck at her previous outing at Cranbourne but there was no such issue on Saturday as Shockletz posted the sixth victory of her career from just 12 starts.
"She's a talented mare with a good record and just needed the distance today and the bigger track," assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
"She's been running well without winning and if you trusted her, you would have found her today."
"It was a good ride by Luke because he didn't panic. It was a funky race up front, they were doing everything. We went from a nice spot, to second last and there were moves left, right and centre.
"We said pre-race to trust that you were on the best horse, which is easy to say when you're watching from the sidelines, but he just let her build and pick-up and she was the best stayer today."
The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year's Eve now shapes as an option for the mare, who relishes roomy tracks.
"We've got the Bagot in two-and-a-half weeks," Turnbull said. "We will have a discussion and just work out where we go. We didn't want to tax her too much. We're very focused on the autumn and then the spring of next year."
Bred and raced by Eales Racing, headed by Laurence Eales who raced the filly's sire Shocking, Shockletz is a full sister to Group Three placed stayer Horrifying , who has won on seven occasions.
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