Shocking, a four-year-old son of Darley stallion Street Cry, put up the performance of his life and recorded his first Group 1 victory in outstanding style on Tuesday when flying home to win a thrilling renewal of the Melbourne Cup.
Shocking was forced to sit three-wide throughout the Melbourne Cup but the nightmare run turned into a dream result when the Street Cry stallion forged clear win at Flemington on Tuesday.
The Mark Kavanagh trained stayer charge had no cover for much of the 3200m contest but, once the field turned for home, jockey Corey Brown tracked Godolphin’s Crime Scene into the race.
Amazingly, Shocking had plenty of juice left in the tank and hit the front with 200m left to run 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 on Victoria Derby day when he stormed to victory in the G3 Lexus Stakes. “I didn’t give him a hope in the running,” Kavanagh said. “He was trapped deep but had improved since Saturday. He’s just come good at the right time.”
Bred by George and Felicity Fraser’s Ilala Stud, Shocking is one of five winners from the British-bred Danehill mare Maria di Castiglia who visited Street Cry’s 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 complete a Group 1 double this week when his unbeaten daughter Zenyatta takes on the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Street Boss, another of Street Cry’s Group 1 winners is currently standing his first season at Darley’s Northwood Park Stud.
Shocking (4h Street Cry – Maria Di Castiglia by Danehill) is owned by Laurence Eales who also races Group 1 galloper Whobegotyou with Kavanagh. He is also by Darley’s super-sire Street Cry.
Eales went to $64,000 to buy Shocking at the 2007 Magic Millions 2YO HIT Sale. He originally went through the ring at the 2007 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale when purchased for $45,000 by Washpool Lodge out of the Ilala Stud consignment.
Before breaking through in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington, Shocking had been placed behind Alcopop in the Listed JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and the G2 Herbert Power Hcp at Caulfield and he also finished second to Baughurst in the G3 Coongy Hcp at Caulfield.
His dam Maria Di Castiglia foaled minor winners by King of Kings, End Sweep, Xaar and Lujain before visiting Street Cry. She was bred in England and retired a maiden after just three starts. Second dam Macrina Pompea (Don Roberto) was a Listed winner in Italy.