Well supported in betting and with the confidence of the Hayes training trio for their galloper to perform well, Here To Shock has earned a ballot exemption at Newcastle for the Epsom Handicap and qualification for the $3 million The Big Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
Starting as the $3 favourite and ridden by Nash Rawiller, Here To Shock outstayed a gallant effort from Matcha Latte ($9.50) to win the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m).
Prior to the win, the seven-year-old was equal 29th in the order of entry for the Group 1 Epsom on October 5 but is now guaranteed a start in the $1.5 million highlight run over the famous Randwick mile.
However, it is The Big Dance run at the same distance that has the attention of co-trainer Ben Hayes.
“He relaxed beautifully for Nash and he (the horse) gave a great kick,” Hayes said.
“We’re very excited that he’s qualified for The Big Dance and our racing manager alerted us to this being a qualifier.
“Hopefully we’ll be heading in that direction.”
Earlier, Chris Waller snared his sixth victory in the Newcastle Gold Cup with a former Irish galloper who edges closer to Caulfield and Melbourne Cup aspirations.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy with the relatively lightweight of 54-kilos in Friday’s 2300-metre $300,000 event, Etna Rosso ($3.40 fav) had been allocated 50-kilos in both feature Cups in Melbourne.
Now with the anticipation of a penalty from Racing Victoria handicapper David Hegan, the four-year-old stood at equal 77th in the order of entry for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19, and equal 85th towards the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 5.
The wider spaces of the Newcastle circuit suited the gelding better than the tighter Wyong track where he finished fifth in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) a fortnight earlier.
This win gave McEvoy his third in Newcastle’s annual feature.
Also, five-year-old Terra Mater ($3.40) notched a second black-type victory in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares.
Smashing past the $600,000 mark in prizemoney, the mare notched her eighth career victory.
Also ridden by Nash Rawiller, the mare continued the remarkable run for connections after they purchased her in an online sale in 2020 for $1,750.