Shocking Chance To Run In Plate

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking may head to the Cox Plate during his Spring campaign and attempt to win the 2040 metre weight for age championship.

 

Kavanagh said that Shocking will spend four weeks with the other spring horses that are under Kavanagh’s ward. After which, Shocking will go to Kavanagh’s stables in Flemington. Kavanagh plans to train Shocking her until the end of June to get him pumped up for the spring races. Kavanagh also added that Shocking needs to work because he got a year older.

Though the defense of his Melbourne Cup triumph is the main goal of Shocking, the $6 million race is not the only race that he will compete in. Kavanagh said that with Shocking’s caliber, their options as to what race to participate in are open. Their options include a shot at the 2400-metre Caulfield Cup or a run at the Cox Plate.

After Shocking’s short campaign during the summer and autumn due to an abscess in the hoof, Kavanagh is in high spirits that his horse will perform better come spring. Shocking only had two starts during the summer and autumn: an eighth place finish at the 1400-metre CF Orr Stakes that was won by Typhoon Tracy and a sixth place finish at the 1800-metre St. George Stakes which was won by La Rocket.

A day before the 2000-metre Australian Cup that was drowned by a storm, Shocking was removed from the list of competitors. The March 13 race at Flemington was won by Zipping.