Lindsay Park gelding Here To Shock makes it back-to-back NSW wins with victory in Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill

Here To Shock continued his brilliant form with victory in the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill, easing the disappointment of stablemate Mr Brightside’s defeat at Caulfield.

Here To Shock and Nash Rawiller (left) hold out Gringotts and Tommy Berry in the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Here To Shock helped ease the disappointment of Mr Brightside’s gut-wrenching defeat when the Lindsay Park galloper continued his sensational run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes were all in Melbourne to watch their stable superstar Mr Brightside compete in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

But the $1.70 favourite couldn’t reel in bold frontrunner Deny Knowledge in the feature.

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It was a different story in Sydney for Here To Shock ($10), who proved too tough to run down in a game victory in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m).

The smart son of Shocking showed tenacity to hold off the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts ($3.70) by a long head while Chris Waller’s Waterford ($8) was a neck away in third.

“It was just incredible,” Ben Hayes told 7 Racing from Melbourne.

”It was a great ride by Nash (Rawiller). Nash has really clicked with him, he’s ridden him great twice.

“And he really stuck his head out.

“He’s in career best form. It’s so good for the ownership group. He’s just been an absolute superstar, the horse.

“Couldn’t be happier.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller gave Here To Shock a perfect steer from an ideal draw, camped just behind the leaders.

He hit the front at the furlong pole before winning out in a thrilling two-way duel with Gringotts over the final furlong to prevail.

“He travelled really well,” Rawiller said.

“You want to build your momentum and he probably got left there in front a long way from home.

“He didn’t really want to go on with it either, he thought his job was done a bit.

“But what I loved, once Gringotts got to him, he was there for the fight, and even though he was lost in front, he found and lifted for me.”

Here To Shock has relished life on the road.

Here To Shock is here to win! The @lindsayparkrace trained galloper takes the Alan Brown Stakes and it's a double to @nashhot!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/NEYJEVUYBr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

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He was a winner of the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and has travelled north again during the spring with back-to-back stakes successes.

“He is a beauty,” jockey Nash Rawiller said.

“It is a great effort by the team to get him up here at the right time for these races.

“I am sure he would have been competitive down there too but I don’t think they would have been going around for a $1.5m with him so it’s great foresight.”

Here To Shock won his way into the Big Dance by winning the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle last month.

He is now a $4.50 second elect for the mile event on November 5 at Royal Randwick.

Rawiller finished second in last year’s Big Dance aboard the late gelding Cepheus, who also won the Alan Brown Stakes in the lead up to the November feature.

“I said to the guys before the race, he reminds me of my old Cepheus, who died a few weeks ago,” Rawiller said.

“That’s what he did, he came and won this race and I tell you what, he didn’t let us down in the Big Dance either.”

Gringotts remains a $3.50 favourite for the Big Dance despite his narrow defeat to Here To Shock.

The Maher galloper was second-up on Saturday and jockey Tommy Berry believes he’s right on track for the Big Dance.

“I thought I had the winner a few times but it was rock hard fit and we were only second up. He is spot on for the Big Dance,” he said.

Sam Clipperton labelled Waterford’s a ‘super run’ while Encap and Territory Express both produced flashing light runs from back in the field to just miss the placings.

Originally published as Lindsay Park gelding Here To Shock makes it back-to-back NSW wins with victory in Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill