Whilst the US racing season heads towards its climax next weekend at the Breeders’ Cup, Australia’s Spring Carnival is now entering full swing with all eyes set to be on Flemington racecourse this Tuesday for the 149th running of the Melbourne Cup.
On Saturday Shocking, a four-year-old son of Street Cry, cemented his place in the ‘race that stops a nation’ with an outstanding win in the G3 Lexus Stakes at Flemington.
Settled off the pace under Michael Rodd, the four-year-old colt looked to need a little luck entering the turn, but once the gap appeared, Shocking accelerated brilliantly along the inside rail and moved clear of his rivals to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Shocking, last seen finishing second in the G3 Coongy Cup, also took the runner’s up slot in last season’s G1 Queensland Derby. Bred by Mrs F Fraser and now owned by Laurence Eales, he is one of five winners from the British-bred Danehill mare Maria di Castiglia who visited Street Cry’s multiple G1-winning son Street Sense last year.
Street Cry has enjoyed another outstanding year in the northern hemisphere headed by Zenyatta’s three G1 victories (taking her unbeaten run to 13 and her total wins at the highest level to seven). She is now likely to take on the boys in next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, whilst fellow G1 winner Seventh Street holds an entry in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
