He was one of two weekend winners for the exciting young stallion prospect when he triumphed in the ARC Valachi Downs Championship Stakes.
The Hassler has made impressive progress this season and has stamped himself as
a stayer with a bright future after his latest success in the three-year-old
feature over 2100 metres.It was a dramatic finish as jockey Vinnie Colgan had nearly parted company with The Hassler a lap from home when he swerved to avoid rider jockey Danielle Johnson, who was still lying on the track after falling from her mount.
Meanwhile, at Avondale on Monday the Graham Richardson-trained Four Degrees rewarded his owners Selwyn and Rosemary Tish with a strong maiden win in the AJC Members maiden over 2100 metres.
Four Degrees is just another one of a number of promising young stayers sired by Shocking from his first three-year-old crop which also featured weekend placegetters Shockaholic, Harvard and Little Shocker in Australia.
The performance of Harvard at Bendigo was especially encouraging as he charged home over 1400 metres to be narrowly beaten in only his second start from the stable of leading trainer Ciaron Maher.
Shocking now has five stakes performers from his first crop headed by New Zealand Oaks winner Fanatic and has gone to the top of the list for New Zealand three-year-old earnings among a strong group of second season sires.
The son of Street Cry was himself a brilliant Group One winner as a four and five-year-old in Australia so his results at stud bode extremely well for the future.
Shocking, who stands at Rich Hill Stud at $8500 + GST, looks well placed to become one of the Australasia's next great classic and cups sires.
News from Rich Hill Stud
