Shocking Wins Makybe Diva Stakes
Story By Alex Steedman
Saturday, 4 September 2010:  | | Shocking |
Not expected to show his best until over more ground further into his Cups campaign, Shocking turned heads with victory at Flemington today against a number of cup hopefuls.
The son of Street Cry was expected to be running on late but not to such an extent he would win the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Shocking settled worse than midfield before jockey Michael Rodd eased the five-year-old into clear running at the top of the Flemington straight.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained gelding had given the likes of Vigor and Heart Of Dreams a generous head start but nevertheless came into winning calculations just outside the final furlong.
Shocking rapidly reduced the margin from there to hit the lead at the 50m and go on to win the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
The great performance by last years Melbourne Cup winner was well received by Kavanagh who earlier in the week had lost another of his Cup hopefuls in Shamoline Warrior to a ligament injury.
The leading Melbourne trainer sounded a warning to any of Shocking's upcoming rivals in the spring.
“He is going better than he was last year,” Kavanagh said.
“I thought it was a bit of a hard ask second up over a mile to tell you the truth.”
“He is lightly raced, 12 months older and he has certainly come back better.
“He's switched on, he was messing around last year but he is fair dinkum now.”
While the Cox Plate is an option for Shocking, Kavanagh does intend on keeping Shocking on his favourite track in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup.
Today's Makybe Diva Stakes was the second time Michael Rodd had enjoyed success aboard Shocking.
The previous occasion was the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington three days prior to last years Melbourne Cup.
Rodd missed out on riding Shocking in last years Melbourne Cup due to the gelding being allocated only 51kg.
With Shocking assigned the equal topweight of 58kg for this years Melbourne Cup, Rodd is looking forward to staying with the galloper as they each attempt to claim their second success in the event.
“We've said all along he has come back a lot sharper,” Rodd said.
“He is a different horse and has switched right on, he knows what his job is now and he showed that today.”
“He travelled up nicely, I was really happy through the going and once I pulled him out he's got that good turn of foot and he keeps going.
“This time in he does it for you, you don't have to make him do it. If you go back and look at his runs this time last year he was always getting pushed along. The jockey would have spurs on and he'd be laying around but now he's travelling up and going through his gears.
“It is pretty exciting, there will be no problems with making the weight this year and lets just hope we can get him there.
Heart Of Dreams and Vigor also showed promise on their way toward the Cups as they finished second and third respectively.
Other Cup candidates to run on well late included the Lloyd Williams-owned C'est La Guerre and last years Group 1 Victorian Derby (2500m) winner Monaco Consul.
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