Shockallia (NZ) Stars in Dunedin Gold Cup

Karaka graduate Shockallia (NZ) (Shocking) has wasted no time in making his mark among the South Island’s staying ranks, scoring a superb come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui.

Passed in at Karaka 2019 and again at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, Shockallia has now had 19 starts for four wins, five placings and $133,125 in stakes. Breeders Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd race him in partnership with the Carriers Arms Racing Syndicate.

Shockallia began his career in the Cambridge stable of Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, showing real promise with two wins from his first four starts and several subsequent placings. After finishing fourth at Te Rapa last April, he moved south to join the Riverton stable of Kelvin Tyler.

Shockallia made his South Island debut in December, finishing fourth over 1200 metres. He then charged home for third over 1600 metres at Riverton before winning an 1800-metre race at Gore on January 20.

That earned the six-year-old a step straight up to stakes class for the Dunedin Gold Cup in just his fourth start for his new stable. Ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, he settled at the tail of the field before swooping rapidly around the outside and looming alongside leader Noble Knight (Ghibellines) at the top of the straight.

Shockallia lifted again to slowly but surely edge ahead of Noble Knight, then withstood a late challenge from Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended) to win by a neck.

“I had a good feeling about this horse,” Fawcett said. “Being by Shocking, I knew he’d love the distance and the ground, and that just showed today.

“Mr Tyler told me that he wasn’t sure if he would be fit enough, but he definitely was. He was finding the line really strong.”

Shockallia has quickly made a very favourable impression on his new trainer.

“It was a question of whether he was rock-hard fit for this race today,” Tyler said. “I was a bit worried stepping up to 2400 metres on this sort of track (Soft7), but I told Jasmine to ride him patiently and do nothing, get into the race about the 600 and look after him as much as she could.

“He’s come down here a good horse. It’s pretty exciting going forward. John and Colleen Thompson sent him down, and I really thank them. He was a replacement for Kilowatt (NZ) (Shocking) who was another great horse and also won this race, so this was a big thrill.”

Rich Hill offered a full-brother to Shockallia during Book 1 of Karaka 2024 last week. The colt did not meet his $80,000 reserve.

Vendor	Rich Hill Stud
Breeding	Shocking – Berzallia
Sale	Lot 596, Karaka 2019 Book 1, Psd (Res $35,000)Lot 283, 2019 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $60,000)
Bred by	Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd