Racing on or near the pace has been a hallmark through most of Here To Shock's career, but the talented New Zealand-bred changed things up at Caulfield on Saturday and powered home from off the pace to win the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).
The accomplished six-year-old drew the outside gate in a field of 11 for Saturday's $200,000 feature, and rider Daniel Stackhouse elected to ease back and settle in the back half of the field as Edison set a solid pace in front.
Here To Shock had only four behind him coming down the side of the track, but Stackhouse swooped widest of all around the home turn and went for gold. Here To Shock quickened powerfully down the middle of the track, hitting the lead with 100m remaining and striding clear to beat Seonee by half a length.
The Victoria Handicap was a new career high for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Here To Shock, who had previously won the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo and had also placed in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).
“He deserved that win,” Stackhouse said. “He's been ultra-consistent and he tries his best every time he goes out there.
“We just had to take our medicine today from that gate. The pace was on, and he travelled lovely and gave me a sweet ride. He really accelerated off the corner and put them away nicely. It might be a new way to ride him.
“He's a good galloper and he can really let go. He's maturing and learning to switch off and settle a bit better. Early on in his career, he was very keen and you couldn't really slow him down. Now he's a lot more versatile.”