Hezashocka hunting modern-day history with back-to-back Gosford Gold Cup wins
Hezashocka won the Gold Cup for the first time last year when the meeting was moved to Newcastle due to a wet forecast with the race staged over 2200m instead.
In 2025 it returns to its traditional home course and distance as Hezashocka chasing a piece of modern-day history in the feature event.
No horse this century has won the Gosford Gold Cup twice with Dark Diamond the last winner of the staying test back-to-back in 1971-71 has a horse.
'We really thought last year the transfer to Newcastle played into his hands being a bigger track, allowing him to gobble up the competition late in the piece and Gosford is a tighter track but he's certainly in great form,' Kent Jr, who trains with Mick Price, said.
'We are happy with the way he is going and he is arguably going as well as ever the horse.
'I thought his run in the JRA Plate was terrific running on.
'The wetter the better for him.'
Hezashocka has had an identical lead-up to the Gosford Cup as he did 12 months ago after running in the Ajax Stakes, Neville Sellwood Stakes and JRA Plate in the lead-up.
He was third in last year's JRA Plate before winning the Cup while finishing runner-up in the same Group 3 behind Bois D'argent this year.
Hezashocka reels in Sir Lucan to win the Gosford Gold Cup 🎣 pic.twitter.com/GCkUkPwiIL
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024
'We have gone with the exact same program and build up,' Kent Jr said.
'He is going great the big boy so it would be no surprise to win this if the race shape works out for him.
'When he won this race last year, we went to Brisbane and he won the Premier's Cup.
'It will depend on that race shape and he will certainly prefer the 2400m on a big track (Eagle Farm) next start.'
Jockey Chad Schofield will get the opportunity to chase consecutive Cups on Hezashocka, which has opened as a $4.60 second elect with the bookies.
A near capacity of 14 runners accepted for the Gosford Gold Cup with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott set to saddle up New Endeavour ($3.60 favourite) and Les Vampires ($4.60) while Chris Waller has accepted with five contenders, including Scarlet Oak ($15) and Medatsu ($15).
The Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m) has drawn a capacity field of 14 runners with Depth Of Character and Know Thyself sharing $4.50 favouritism for the feature event.
Les Vampires ($8) was also among the acceptors for The Coast alongside stablemate Townsend ($12).
The Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes field was reduced to 14 runners following the early scratchings of Terra Mater and Need Some Luck.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
44 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Trent Robinson supports Spencer Leniu's aggressive approach, calls on referees to punish foul play
Roosters coach Trent Robinson won't tell firebrand Spencer Leniu to tone down his aggression after last week's spiteful clash against the Dolphins, where four players were sent to the sin bin and fines were dished out like candy at Halloween. Leniu and teammate Naufahu Whyte joined Dolphins duo Francis Molo and Aublix Tawha in the sin bin after a post-try melee that was sparked by the NSW prop shaping up to Tawha. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Players from both sides came together just a minute after referee Gerard Sutton had warned both captains following another push and shove that was sparked by Tawha shoving Roosters halfback Sam Walker. 'I see a guy that's passionate about protecting his halves. I don't think anything was going to happen until someone touched Sammy Walker,' Robinson said, with Leniu scoring a try upon his return in the crucial 64-12 win. 'The game didn't like it with the charges and I think a couple of guys could have got charges – 'Fahu' (Whyte) and one of their players (what they did) was probably a bit too much. 'You don't want people running in from a long distance – I understand that – but I think I've had 100 per cent of comments that have been really positive about the way that game was played and the intensity of those guys. 'I think everyone enjoyed seeing it because no one got hurt, there was no trouble from it and people knew why it happened.' The push on Walker infuriated Leniu, with the Roosters frustrated by several calls this season when acts of foul play were unpunished by officials. Nat Butcher and Siua Wong both suffered knee injuries that weren't penalised on the field but resulted in lengthy bans, while Wong was also knocked out from a kick-off last week, with Sutton ruling a knock-on because the contact was deemed accidental. 'I think supporting 'Spenny' and the boys when they want to protect each other (is fine) because we've had some foul play that has gone untouched,' Robinson explained. 'We've had significant foul play this year that we haven't even received a penalty for and sometimes the guys get a bit sick of it and want to make a stand of it themselves. 'As long as that gets looked after, the boys will stay on task.' There's a reason why Leniu was so desperate to protect Walker given the halfback has been in stunning form since returning from an ACL injury that ended his 2024 campaign. It usually takes a year for players to return to their best, but the halfback has set up 13 tries in five games and has them back in the finals mix. His combination with Hugo Savala has been tremendous, while Robinson isn't taking any credit for the ad-lib play like the footwork and long ball that fooled the defence and set up a Daniel Tupou try last week. 'It's a hard thing to come back and get in the groove straight away,' he said. 'I think over the last month we've seen that progression week on week and I feel like … he's seeing the game really clearly now getting back to a physical presence in the game. 'Sammy is a year older, a year smarter, and long may it continue. 'We get to watch him all the time and he's always looking for what the next opportunity is. There's a trust there because his eyes are very good and his instinct around space is really good. 'He knows how to use his tools, whether it's a pass or kick or a run to take advantage of that. It's just observing and allowing the freedom for those plays. It's got nothing to do with our coaching. It's allowing him to do it whenever he wants.' Last week's big win has the Roosters on the edge of the top eight ahead of a mouth-watering showdown with the high-flying Bulldogs in the wet. 'We've been pretty clear with how important we think this game is. All that matters is tomorrow night. It's all we're focused on and we've prepped towards that,' Robinson said. 'I've really enjoyed watching the challenge of the guys and how they've risen to that because we know it's right there. 'Each week has been the most important week this season, and it's no different tomorrow night, so we need to attack them. 'They're a very good team and there's all respect to that, but that's it for us. We have to go after it – there's no other choice.'
News.com.au
44 minutes ago
- News.com.au
A debt-clearing plan from current owners could be needed to save Western United
Western United's current investors are hoping to save the club from A-League extinction rather than rely on proposed new owners KAM Melbourne. Stripped of its A-League licence last Friday by Football Australia, United has until Saturday to lodge an appeal against the decision, which was made due to the financially embattled Victorian club's failure to meet the criteria required for a licence. United and its parent company Western Melbourne Group had hoped its financial woes – including a six-figure sum owed to the club's former striker Aleksandar Prijovic and a multimillion-dollar tax debt reportedly owed by United chairman Jason Sourasis – were solved by a proposed $100 million investment from KAM Melbourne that was announced in May. However, the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League, is yet to receive the completed ownership proposal from KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of American company KAS Sports. With ongoing uncertainty about KAM Melbourne's ability to submit a viable proposal, it's understood investors that make up WMG – which is headed by Sourasis – have been advised and encouraged to pay the club's debts to ensure United's future. Paying Prijovic would lead to FIFA lifting the ban it imposed on United from registering new signings. That, as well as payment of the tax bill, would go a long towards United's appeal against being stripped off its licence being successful. United's squad continues to train at the club's Tarneit base under coach, Socceroos great John Aloisi. Under the guidance of Aloisi, United won the 2022 A-League championship, with Switzerland-born Serbian international Prijovic having played a leading role in the club's 2-0n grand final win over Melbourne City at AAMI Park. Meanwhile, Socceroos defender Jason Davidson has rejoined Melbourne Victory on a two-year deal. Davidson, 34, spent the 2021-22 season with the Victory before spend the past three years in Europe with stints at Eupen (Belgium) and Panserraikos (Greece). 'Returning to Victory after three years in Europe is incredibly exciting,' Davidson said. 'My time overseas has only made me more hungry for success. I intend to bring my best to the team, alongside the rest of the playing group, and help drive success this season.' Victory coach Arthur Diles said: 'Jason has proven his ability to be a game changer in both the A-League and on the international stage.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Reason why Marion Seve wears goggles for Melbourne Storm revealed
It's an usual look for an NRL player, but there's a reason behind Marion Seve's eyewear. The Melbourne Storm and North Sydney Bears centre copped an accidental boot to the eye while playing for the Bears in the NSW Cup in early June. The 30-year-old was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital for immediate surgery where doctors told him the injury was 'traumatic and serious.' He was told could lose his sight permanently by sustaining another knock to the eye playing rugby league. But determined to play again, Melbourne arranged for Seve to wear protective goggles which he'll now have equipped for the rest of his rugby league career.
