Shocking wins the 2011 Australian Cup from Linton
Hero of the Melbourne Cup back in 2009, the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking was back in the Flemington winners’ stall today becoming the 2011 Australian Cup hero in the most devastating fashion.
Shocking was also the Races.com.au favourite to win in our early 2011 Australian Cup betting tips, so any readers that followed our pro advice would have cleaned up today as Shocking paid a generous $8.50 to win through Luxbet.
Early on it was the likes of Kiwi stayer Ginga Dude and the Lloyd Williams-owned Mourayan who lead the field and set a blistering pace for the 2000m showdown.
Mourayan raced on very keenly leading by up to five lengths with around 900m left to travel.
Having drawn wide with barrier 12, Shocking and jockey Corey Brown were forced to settle well back in the field and the eventual winner was one of the last to corner on the turn for home.
Along the straight the frontrunners quickly caved as the likes of Perth three-year-old Playing God, improving Galileo grey Linton and Shocking moved up to challenge.
Linton was ultra impressive running up strong and fast through the middle and looked the winner until Shocking produced the run of the race.
A Flemington track specialist coming off a seventh place finish to Heart Of Dreams over the unsuitably short distance of 1800m at Caulfield last start, Shocking was back to his best today.
On the line it was run-away winner Shocking two lengths ahead of a much-improved Linton while Playing God held on for third.
After missing the start by a length and a half, favourite Heart Of Dreams was never in the race and confirmed claims that his favouritism in a 2000m event were unjustified.
Today Shocking become a 2000m weight-for-age winner and Kavanagh hinted that the $400,000 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes run over the same distance and conditions at Rosehill next Saturday March 19 was now an option.
Shocking has now won seven of his 27 career starts, today’s prize money boosting his total earnings to over $4.8 million.
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2011 Australian Cup Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | SHOCKING(12) | Corey Brown | Mark Kavanagh | 59.0 | 2-0.95 |
| 2nd | 10 | LINTON(8) | Michael Rodd | Robert Hickmott | 59.0 | 2.0L |
| 3rd | 15 | PLAYING GOD(11) | Craig Newitt | Neville Parnham | 54.5 | 3.3L |
| 4th | 2 | SCENIC SHOT(15) | Shane Scriven | Daniel Morton | 59.0 | 3.5L |
| 5th | 5 | PRECEDENCE(13) | Steven Arnold | Bart Cummings | 59.0 | 3.6L |
| 6th | 14 | LARISTAN(7) | Brad Rawiller | David Hayes | 58.5 | 4.1L |
| 7th | 11 | CEDARBERG(6) | Glyn Schofield | Pat Carey | 59.0 | 4.3L |
| 8th | 3 | HEART OF DREAMS(9) | Damien Oliver | Mick Price | 59.0 | 4.4L |
| 9th | 9 | MOUDRE(4) | Craig Williams | Ciaron Maher | 59.0 | 5.9L |
| 10th | 6 | GINGA DUDE(1) | Michael Walker | Graeme Boyd | 59.0 | 8.1L |
| 11th | 7 | MOURAYAN(10) | Danny Nikolic | Robert Hickmott | 59.0 | 8.3L |
| 12th | 13 | MR CHARLIE(5) | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody | 59.0 | 12.1L |
| 13th | 4 | C’EST LA GUERRE(3) | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | 59.0 | 12.2L |
| 14th | 8 | ALCOPOP(14) | Ben Melham | Jake Stephens | 59.0 | 12.9L |
| 15th | 12 | LORD PYRUS(2) | Noel Callow | Judy Mawer | 59.0 | 15.9L |
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography
