By David Nagel
The inaugural running of the $1million The Supernova (1400m) turned into a coronation of sorts for gun jockey Daniel Stackhouse after Here To Shock’s victory in the richest race ever ran at Pakenham.
Stackhouse completed a winning treble on Pakenham Cup Day, after earlier riding a double for local trainer Phillip Stokes; aboard Sweethearted and Deakin.
But it was the win aboard Here To Shock that provided his biggest thrill on the biggest day of racing on the local calendar, giving the training partnership of Ben, Will and JD Hayes a quinella in the race; with Arkansaw Kid running second after closing to within a half-head on the line.
Stackhouse got his priorities in the correct order post-race, thanking his girlfriend for stepping in and helping with the preparations for Here To Shock in the lead up to the race.
“I have to thank Tatum (Bull), my partner, for trialing last week for me, she did me a big solid and she was going to be dirty it if I don’t give her a shout out; so, I’d like to thank her and all the Hayes boys, all the owners too,” a beaming Stackhouse said.
Stackhouse was forced to work the seven-year-old gelding in the early parts of the race after decided to push forward from an outside draw.
Renowned-leader Buffalo River then set a nice tempo up front, allowing Stackhouse to sit second, one of the fence, with a lovely trail.
He exposed Here To Shock at the top of the Pakenham straight, hitting the front and then repelling the late charge of Arkansaw Kid on the line.
“He stepped okay, I sort of had to use him, obviously everyone wanted to be in a position, so we just had to do a little bit of work for the early half,” he explained.
“But it’s such a beautiful straight run into that first corner, that’s right when Buffalo (River) comes, he gave me a nice tow into it, and I could just use him as a bunny.
“He switched off great, I just asked him to improve from about the six to the four, just nursed him along and got to the 300 (metres) and he just kept doing the rest.
“Arkansaw Kid was coming and he just toughed it out, so it’s a great win.”
Will Hayes, speaking on behalf of his brothers, was delighted to have two of his stable stars fight out a thrilling finish.
“It was terrific…cheering for both of them,” Hayes said from the mounting yard post-race.
“Here To Shock, he’s an absolute marvel.
“We were very confident after the Big Dance in Sydney that we were going to get him back and we had our eyes set on this race from a long way out.
“That’s why he was representing our slot today.
“But Arkansas (Kid) ran huge, and thanks have got to go to Cavallo Park Stud who let us enter Arkansas in that slot.
“They both ran super today.”
Hayes said Here To Shock had matured from a flighty youngster into a now professional racehorse.
“He’s a horse that just loves getting down in the day paddocks at Euroa,” he said.
“He really just likes being in the country environment.
“We keep him nice and relaxed, as you’ll see, we have earmuffs on him as race gear.
“So, keeping him relaxed has really been key to him going through the ratings; he’s just a happy horse.
“We gave him a tick over trial before this and we we’re really happy with him coming into today.
“He’s a pretty dangerous 1400-metre horse and we still think, well-weighted, he can get a mile.
“So, the options are aplenty; I don’t think many horses will want to be seeing him line up against them.”
Southside Racing included a community element to The Supernova, with community groups from the Cardinia Shire and City of Casey being allocated horses to represent them in the race.
Congratulations go to Pearcedale/Baxter Junior Football Club ($5,000), Cranbourne Cricket Club ($3,000) and Pakenham Cricket Club ($2,000) on sharing the $10,000 up for grabs.
