Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are not going to let a wide barrier stop them from pressing on with their original plans for Hezashocka.
The New Zealand-bred galloper drew the widest gate in a capacity field in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Under normal circumstances, questions would be raised whether to run or not, but Hezashocka is on a path towards the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21.
Victory in Saturday’s race secures the winner a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup after just missing a ballot exemption when narrowly beaten in the Mornington Cup (2400m) in April.
However, Hezashocka is on the cusp of a start in the Caulfield Cup being 27th in the Order of Entry after weights were released on Tuesday.
Kent Jnr said Saturday’s race was a stepping stone to the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7 which in turn is a stepping stone to the Caulfield Cup.
While the Turnbull Stakes is the preferred option for Hezashocka’s next start after Saturday, the gelding will also be entered for the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on the same day.
Hezashocka is second-up on Saturday, having finished eighth on resumption in the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on September 2.
“It’s an unfortunate barrier but I think we will ride him similar to first-up, where he sprinted exceptionally well,” Kent Jnr said.
“Bar the winner Soulcombe, he was probably the second-best run in the race with limited room late.
“The horse is going terrific, but we don’t want to bust him up second-up with bigger things in store.
“We’ll ride for luck and if the pace is on, there is no reason why he could not get over the top of them.
“With 16 runners, you would expect the pace to be steady and with him, you would probably prefer to draw there than one or two.
“He’s 27th in order for the Caulfield Cup with 52-½ kilos. He’d be close to getting a run, so I think we will stay on our path and hopefully win one of the big ones.”
