Hezashocka lands betting plunge under Jamie Kah in Premier’s Cupo

Jamie Kah gave the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained galloper a perfect steer to the cheers of punters who backed the OTI-owned stayer like he was unbeatable.

Hezashocka wins at Eagle Farm for jockey Jamie Kah and trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

By Ben Dorries and Trenton Akers

Jamie Kah quipped she shouldn’t get paid for her winning ride, such was the ease of her victory on Hezashocka at Eagle Farm.

Kah gave the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained galloper a perfect steer in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) to the cheers of punters who backed the OTI-owned stayer like he was unbeatable.

Backing up after finishing seventh in the Group 1 Doomben Cup where he was beaten less than three lengths, Hezashocka was bombed in betting markets as punters came for him and backed him from $3 into $2.25.

Kah was always sitting pretty in the run and Hezashocka cruised into the race in the straight and always travelled like the winner, although runner-up Alegron ($19) made sure it wasn’t all one-way traffic. There was more than six lengths back to the rest.

Kah said it was one of her easier winning rides.

He’s a winner! Hezashocka wins the G3 Premier's Cup at Eagle Farm!@BrisRacingClub@MickPriceRacing@[e-mail]/g9aIdacQ86

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 1, 2024

“I just said to the owners that I probably shouldn’t get paid, that was too easy,” Kah said.

“He’s just a gentleman to ride and he’s been running so well.”

The next stop for Hezashocka is the $1.2m Q22 (2200m) on Stradbroke Handicap day and connections will be hoping he will get his favoured conditions with the sting out of the track.

Hezashocka relished the soft surface at Eagle Farm on Saturday and Kent Jr indicated he was keen to push onto the riches of the Q22.

“I’d say for $1.2 million, why wouldn’t we go there?,” Kent Jr said.

“When this horse finds form he normally holds it. We lost him for a bit on firmer track but back on softer tracks he is just thriving.”

It comes as joint favourite Just Folk pulled his rival’s pants down in a dominant frontrunning display in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m).

JUST FOLK too good! 👊@nashhot guides the @GavinBedggood galloper to victory in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup! 🏆 @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/zUlBgIyS73

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 1, 2024

Nash Rawiller grabbed control of the contest early in the race produced a timed-to-the-minute performance to hold off all challengers, with one-time Stradbroke Handicap fancy Converge finding some form to run second.

“It is good to be on that type of horse,” Rawiller said.

“You can get away with a couple of soft ones (sectionals) midrace and it is great when you have the confidence to let them go well before straightening on a track like this because it is a long way home.

“To be fair he kept going for me and it felt like his last one was his best one. I was really proud of his effort today.”

Originally published as Hezashocka lands betting plunge under Jamie Kah in Premier’s Cupo