Lucrative spring targets now beckon exciting Kiwi-bred I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) after his placing in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The son of Shocking ran third behind fellow New Zealand-bred Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the Group One feature and is now set to have one final Melbourne hit-out before heading north to Sydney for the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m).
“He’s pulled up good, he got pinballed a bit on the day but he ran super and he will train on for the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) which is three weeks and then three weeks into the Golden Eagle, so it’s a good program for him,” Price told Racing.com.
“The question is is he a Group One handicapping horse at this stage, and I think he is, and I think the mile will be good for him too.
“There’s the Epsom in two weeks but you sort of have to train them on the phone don’t you, so I think if you keep him at Caulfield, he goes good at Caulfield, and you have a bit of joy in running and hopefully he gets a run now and he can hopefully win a Toorak and onto a Golden Eagle.”
I’m Thunderstruck was initially prepared in New Zealand by Matamata trainer Daniel Miller for whom he won his 1000m trial at Te Aroha in June last year before being sold privately to OTI through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo
Meanwhile, stablemate and fellow Kiwi-bred Ayrton’s (NZ) (Iffraaj) spring preparation is over.
Ayrton was checked into the South Eastern Equine Hospital last week to treat swelling found on his near-hind leg and trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have decided to take the cautious approach with the gelding and send him for a spell.
Ayrton has won five of his seven starts including the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m). He placed in his other two raceday appearances, including runner-up in the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) and third in the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) last start.
