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Important SN update for SouthlandShockletz claims Mahogany Challenge Final
NZ Racing Desk • July 5th, 2025 9:50 pm
Shockletz prevails in a tight finish at Flemington | Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Smart three-year-old staying filly Shockletz has overcome a wide barrier to win the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday under a well-judged Harry Coffey ride.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher, the daughter of Shocking recorded the third victory of the campaign and relished the step up in distance, narrowly getting the better of Ant who made a dashing late run nearer the rails.
“She was drawn really wide (13) and Harry was initially going to be posted deep but he rolled the dice and decided to go a little bit forward and he ended up getting the position that we exactly wanted,” stable representative Leigh Allen said.
“One went around and put a bit of speed into it in the end and she just blended into the race nicely.”
“She is by Shocking and is bred to stay, so the step up to 2500m was not our concern, obviously the issue was the gate and Harry did a great job. She has a great bunch of owners in Eales Racing, they just love her.
It has come a lot too early for her, but to get another win at Flemington is great for them, so we’re stoked.”
Coffey said he was caught on a limb early but elected to use the filly when a more forward slot became available.
“The jockeys to the inside were aware of that and kicked up and it became quite awkward for a bit but after a while we were able to slot in,” Coffey said.
“She rested for about 400m and then the pace came out of the race and she was wanting to go and was over-racing.
“I just had to work with her and keep her in as good a rhythm as possible and then protect my ground so that when it was time to go I had room.
“She actually quickened at the top of the straight like the winner but I wasn’t aware of the one coming on the inside (Ant) and she was probably emptying out and petering on her run and somehow she found the will to win and got her head down.
“She relished the 2500m and if it was a truer run race from the 1000m I reckon she would have won even better.
“She is on the up, she is still green, so there is improvement there and she is bred to do it and bred to race well at Flemington, so it will be a lot of fun for the owners.”
Bred and raced by Eales Racing, headed by Laurence Eales who raced the filly’s sire Shocking, Shockletz has now won four of her eight starts with a further two placings.
She is a full sister to Group Three placed stayer Horrifying, who has won on seven occasions. – NZ Racing Desk
