Shocking four-year-old doesn’t have a name but he showed today that he’ll need one soon

He’s four, doesn’t have a name yet and ran only fourth at the Waipa trials today but trainer Stephen Marsh says he couldn’t fault the run of Lincoln Farms’ Shocking four-year-old.

The gelding, who is out of the useful Shinko King mare Shi Kin Fly, has been given plenty of time to mature, Wellfield Lodge manager Peter Didham having given him five educational trials this year.

But Marsh, who only recently took over the horse, says judging by his performance today he will be ready to go to the races after just one more trial.

“He wasn’t ready for 1150 metres today, so with no heats over 1000 metres I chose to run him over 850 metres, which was always going to be too short for him.

“He’s a real staying type, and he got back second last, but he hit the line nicely to run fourth, doing his best work at the line. I couldn’t fault the run. I thought for a first trial he was very good.’’

Jake Bayliss … rode the Shocking gelding.The gelding improved widest on the turn for rider Jake Bayliss and closed within two lengths of the first two home, Tony Pike’s Rippa Eagle photo-finishing Nicole Ashley, a Jacinto filly with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

“There are no more trials now until the first week of January but he can go round over 1200 metres at Cambridge and then he could be ready to go to the races.

“He’ll only keep on improving.’’

The gelding is the second foal of Shi Kin Fly who won $174,000 in her 33-start career, numbering the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes among her seven wins. She showed staying ability winning the Summer Cup at Trentham and running second in the St Leger but was retired after winning the 2011 Thames Cup.

Shi Kin Fly’s first foal, by Darci Brahma, won four races here as He Kin Fly before his sale to Hong Kong where he won one of five starts in 2017 under the name Big Flash.

The gelding will be raced by Lincoln Farms, its manager Ian Middleton, Wellfield Lodge and Marsh himself.