https://www.racing.com/news/2024-05-08/news-preview-time-to-shock-em-ova
Alex Rae has played the patient game with his promising stayer Shock ‘Em Ova but said it’s time to pull the trigger with him.
Shock ‘Em Ova returns to racing for the first time in 2024 when he contests the Benchmark 100 1400m event at Caulfield on Saturday.
“Everyone has been so patient with him to this point of time being a five-year-old who has only had nine starts,” Rae said.
Shock ‘Em Ova has won four of his nine starts. At his last three starts he won back-to-back restricted races at Caulfield before he finished third in the Rosehill Cup.
“There’s never been any issues that have led to his lack of racing.
“We’ve always thought of the big picture with him and it’s his time to shine.
“His whole program has been devised about going to Queensland.”
WATCH: Progressive stayer Shock ‘Em Ova in full flight.
If he was to perform well on Saturday, Rae intends to follow the same path as Without A Fight did last year by running him in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) on June 1 and then the Q22 (2200m) on June 15 both at Eagle Farm.
“We’ve been patient with him and If we’re ever going to pull the trigger it’s now as he seems to be going better than ever,” Rae said.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge but we believe he’s a really high-class galloper.
“If he can continue to improve I’d love to get there.”
Rae said all the signs suggested that Shock ‘Em Ova has returned to work as a better horse.
“He’s continued to develop physically,” he said.
“It’s been an absolute credit to his owners being by Shocking.
“He’s such a big horse when he gets to his fifth and sixth year now we’ve got a big strong Shock ‘Em Ova who hasn’t had a bad day in his life.”
Shock ‘Em Ova (NZ)Trainer A.G.RaeAge5YOSexGeldingColourBayPrize Money$329,850Last 5-2113Career9-4-3-1