Shocking, a four-year-old son of Darley stallion Street Cry, put up the performance of his life and recorded his first G1 victory in outstanding style on Tuesday when flying home to win a thrilling renewal of the Melbourne Cup
Forced to sit three-wide throughout, Mark Kavanagh’s charge enjoyed no cover for much of the two-mile contest, but once the field turned for home jockey Corey Brown tracked Godolphin’s Crime Scene who picked up the lead from Warringah. A tremendous battle ensued, but Shocking had plenty of petrol left in the tank and hit the front with 200m left to run and flew home to win by a length. Crime Scene's second place provided the Darley stallions with the quinella, as he is by Royal Applause who is based in the UK.
Shocking burst into Cup contention just three days ago when storming to victory in the G3 Lexus Stakes to record his first Stakes win.
Speaking after the race, Mark Kavanagh said, 'I didn't give him a hope in the running, he was trapped deep.
'But he went so good on Saturday and had improved. He's just come good at the right time.”
Bred by George and Felicity Fraser's Ilala Stud 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 and is due to return to Street Cry this year.
Street Cry is now sire of ten individual winners at the highest level - including fellow Australian G1 winner Whobegotyou. Street Cry could enjoy a G1 double this week, as his oustanding daughter Zenyatta looks set to take on the boys in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Another of his G1 winners, Street Boss, is currently standing his first season at Darley's Northwood Park Stud.
