Hezashocka hunting modern-day history with back-to-back Gosford Gold Cup wins
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jr knows defending champion Hezashocka faces a vastly different challenge in Saturday's Listed $250,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) as his talented stayer chases a 53-year first at Gosford.
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.
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