Last year the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking rose from relative obscurity to the biggest thing in Australian racing when he claimed an upset win in the 2009 Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November.
With the early pre-nomination betting markets going off at bookmakers including SportingBet, plenty of money is already coming in for Shocking to make it back-to-back success in the world’s richest handicap race and win the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
Currently occupying the seventh line of betting at SportingBet, Shocking is at the generous early odds of $23 that are sure to shorten following the 2010 Melbourne Cup nominations at the start of August.
Shocking was spelled after his Melbourne Cup victory and returned to the track in February.
His two autumn starts were disappointing as he finished second last to Typhoon Tracy in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes (1400m) and then sixth to La Rocket in the Group 2 St George Stakes (1800m), likely needing more distance to run his best.
To date Shocking, a son of Irish sire Street Cry, has earned an impressive $3,894,525 in prizemoney having won five of his 17 career starts.
Flemington-based trainer Mark Kavanagh has a number of other classy gallopers in training for a spring carnival assault including Whobegotyou.
Initial favourites to become the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner include the Bart Cummings’ filly Faint Perfume, the lightly raced Galileo gelding Linton, and Irish mare Profound Beauty.
The 2010 Melbourne Cup, scheduled as Race 7 at Flemington on Tuesday November 2, is worth a record $6 million in prizemoney this year for its 150th anniversary.
We will be the first to publish the 2010 Melbourne Cup final field and form following declarations in October, so don’t forget to come back before you place your Melbourne Cup bets at [sportsbet].
Horse Facts – Shocking
Jockey: Shocking was ridden by Corey Brown for his 2009 Melbourne Cup win, but has had Michael Rodd aboard for his 2010 races.
Trainer: Mark Kavanagh
Owner: Eales Racing Pty Ltd
Age: 4YO
Gender: Entire
Career: 17-5-5-2
Current Melbourne Cup Odds: $23 SportingBet
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