Written by Paul Vettise
Rich Hill Stud and their resident stallion Shocking were to the fore on the home and away fronts over the weekend with the two-time Group 1 winner’s success continuing something of a resurgence in his stallion career.
The Walton farm on the outskirts of Matamata enjoyed a winning double at Matamata and Sha Tin with a pair of home-breds by the Street Cry (Ire) sire, whose domestic progress hasn’t been helped by the offshore sale of a number of his promising younger progeny.
His sons The Hassler (NZ), Shocking Luck (NZ) and Formidable (NZ) all found their way to Hong Kong following New Zealand stakes successes as 3-year-olds with the latter, now racing as Tianchi Monster, emerging as a G1 Hong Kong Derby prospect for trainer Chris So.
Shocking
“It’s been a bit frustrating with Shocking and sales like those took the stallion’s momentum away a fair bit,” Rich Hill’s John Thompson said.
“It’s been a bit frustrating with Shocking and sales like those took the stallion’s momentum away a fair bit.” – John Thompson.
“Love Shock was another one who won three up there, but Shocking’s starting to pick up again here now.”
Shocking’s latest winning double was kicked off by G1 New Zealand Oaks and G1 Australian Oaks entry Taming the Shrew (NZ), successful for the second time in her brief career at Matamata.
Taming the Shrew
She was bred by Thompson and his father Colin, and sold through Rich Hill’s 2017 Festival Sale draft at Karaka for NZ$17,000 to Wexford Stables.
Taming The Shrew is a daughter of Stage Fright (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who has also produced the Singapore stakes performer Boundless Glory (NZ) (King’s Chapel). It is the family of the G1 Champion S. winner Lady Agnes (NZ) (Gleam Machine {USA}).
“I said to the syndicate that race her that her form compares very well to Fanatic at the same stage,” Thomson said.
“I said to the syndicate that race her that her form compares very well to Fanatic at the same stage.” –John Thompson.
Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking) won the G1 New Zealand Oaks for the now-retired Graeme Sanders and his daughter Debbie Sweeney before relocating to Lindsay Park. She subsequently added the G2 Adelaide Cup to her record.
The Thompson family also bred Tianchi Monster and sold him in 2016 to Kirk Devers’ KRD Racing, of Victoria, for NZ$39,000.
He began his career with Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie and won the Listed Auckland Salver at Ellerslie off the back of his maiden success before his sale.
Tianchi Monster is a son of the Casino Prince mare Princess Biscotte , who was bought by Thompson for NZ$20,000.
Tianchi Monster pictured as a yearling
“I liked her pedigree and she is a half-sister to a Group 1 winner.” – John Thompson.
“I purchased her at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale,” he said. “I wasn’t there and John Chalmers got her for us.
“I liked her pedigree and she is a half-sister to a Group 1 winner. She was in foal to Trusting at the time and I liked the pedigree with the Marscay blood there.
“The Trusting filly (Isn’t She Elegant) won nine races and then she had Formidable, who looked a real New Zealand Derby type and Cups’ horse before he was sold.
“Princess Biscotte is still relatively young and a Book 1 mare. She’s a nice, big, scopey type.
“The mare has got a lovely colt by Vadamos and she’s in foal now to Tavistock.” – John Thompson.
“One of the main reasons I bought her was to go to Pentire, but unfortunately she slipped to him and then we lost him.”
Her third foal, Prince Biscotte, in an unraced 3-year-old in Australia and a Proisir filly is at Rick Hill after failing to meet her NZ$60,000 reserve at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sale last month.
“That may not be a bad thing now,” Thompson said. “The mare has got a lovely colt by Vadamos and she’s in foal now to Tavistock.”
Princess Biscotte is a half-sister to the G1 Orr S. winner Barkada (Spectrum {Ire}) with their dam Biscotte (Marscay) a half-sister to the G2 Scottsville Oaks winner Taineberry (Centaine).
The family also includes the G1 Kenilworth Cape Guineas winner Solo Traveller (SAF) (Western Winter) and his sister Redberry Lane, winner of the G1 Greyville Garden Province S.
