Cranbourne trainer Alex Rae may have found the galloper to take him to the next level in promising stayer Shock ‘Em Ova who stormed home to win at The Valley.
Shock ‘Em Ova as he did at his debut in a Cranbourne Maiden over 1600 metres sprinted home powerfully to keep his undefeated record intact after two starts when stretched out to 2040 metres on Saturday.
Shock Em’ Ova’s trainer Alex Rae said he would be patient with the son of Shocking and was considering giving him a spell and to miss the spring.
Rae said on RSN’s Correct Weight that Shock ‘Em Ova, by Shocking, was the first horse he had purchased as a yearling for $26,000 at Karaka Yearling Sales in New Zealand in 2020.
The other winner who stood out in terms of the future was the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Alpha One who won the 955 metres two-year-old event for colts and geldings.
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Peter Snowden was on track at The Valley and he said Alpha One would target stakes races in Melbourne during the early.
The understated trainer said Alpha One was a lovely type who possessed great speed.
The standard of jockeyship at The Valley on Saturday was the other highlight of the nine-race program with champion jockeys showing their wares on the cusp of the spring carnival.
Damien Oliver set the ball rolling when he controlled the tempo when he led throughout to win the opening event on Not Usual Glorious.
Then in the second race, Damian Lane used Alpha One’s speed to lead throughout to win the 955 metres two-year-old event for colts and geldings.
Lane was at his sublime best in the final race positioning Home Rule in the box seat and in the best lane for winning horses which was three off the fence.
Craig Williams also continued his great recent form with a winning double on Ferago and Lackeen.
Bill Egan continued his rise to prominence also with a winning double on Spanish Tides and Jimmy The Bear.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
JIMMY THE BEAR
Stepped up in distance, sat wide and still proved too good. The Patrick Payne trained galloper has been a revelation over winter. He’s the type of horse who could be a factor in a stakes race early in spring.
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VA VIA
Godolphin and James Cummings place their horses to perfection and each year they are to the fore in the early spring three-year-old stakes races. Va Via showed talent over summer but looks to have improved judging by her first-up third behind Winnertakesitall over 955 metres where she recorded the fastest last 200 metres of the meeting sprinting home in 11.87 seconds.
MATHEW
Looked to be working into the race nicely before the turn but then ran into a wall of horses and was held up. He then bumped another galloper and that was it for him. If he had the same unencumbered run as the winner Shock ‘Em Ova he would have gone close.
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AMERICAIN ANGEL
Got stuck in the wrong spot at The Valley from barrier one, midfield on the fence and surrounded by horses. As a result she didn’t ever get any clear galloping room. Worked to the line nicely in a forgive run.
