A big, powerfully built entire, Shocking was dominant in winning the 2009 Melbourne Cup

Shocking is an Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse, trained by Mark Kavanagh, who won the 149th Melbourne Cup on 3 November 2009 by three-quarters of a length. Shocking is by the outstanding sire, Street Cry (Ireland) out of Maria Di Castaglia by Danehill (USA). George Fraser purchased Maria di Castiglia (GB) while she was carrying Shocking in foal at a William Inglis bloodstock sale for $20,000. Fraser later sold the resulting foal, Shocking, at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $45,000 to a local horse broker. After being broken in, he was sold on to Laurence Eales for $64,000 in late 2007. Laurence Eales also owned the 2009 Caulfield Stakes winner Whobegotyou, also by Street Cry.

Shocking showed promise as a maidener, before winning at Bendigo over 1300m in April 2009. Once up to the mile he started to produce his real staying talent as a 3yo, winning over the mile at Flemington and 2000m at Caulfield. In June, Shocking ran 2nd to Court Ruler by a long neck in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) before going for a spell and returning as a four-year-old. In September, the entire ran 2nd to Alcopop in the Listed JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley, and then had to settle for the runner-up berth to Alcopop in the 2400m Gr.2 Herbert Power. A further 2nd in the Gr.3 Coongy on a soft track at Caulfield in October primed the horse beautifully for the big assignments ahead.

At the time of winning the Melbourne Cup he was four years old and had qualified after winning the Lexus Stakes over 2500 metres at Flemington on 31 October 2009, defeating Hume. The Melbourne Cup was Shocking's 15th start. He defeated Crime Scene and Mourilyan who placed second and third respectively. It was the first Melbourne Cup win for jockey Corey Brown, who placed second in the 2008 race in a photo finish, second in the 2002 race and dead-heated for third whilst riding Lahar in the 1999 Melbourne Cup. The 2009 Cup field was not a classic by any means, but Shocking demonstrated his exceptional endurance by effortlessly defeating the competition with a sustained run down the centre of the Flemington track.

Shocking's 2010 autumn campaign was curtailed by an injury after two unplaced starts. Returning in the spring of 2010, he won second-up in the Gr.2 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m, putting him into Melbourne Cup favouritism. He followed up with a luckless fourth in the Caulfield Cup and a 6th in the LKS MacKinnon Stakes. He was the second favourite for the Melbourne Cup on 2 November, behind dual Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes winner So You Think. In the autumn of 2011, Shocking again showed his liking for Flemington when winning the Australian Cup over 2000 metres, defeating Lloyd Williams’ grey Linton and Perth three year old Playing God. Jockey Corey Brown, rode through the pain barrier after being injured in a mishap at the Randwick barrier trials the week before. He subsequently was forced to miss several meetings in Sydney but was all smiles after Shocking finished powerfully, storming home from the rear.

The Australian Cup win ended up being Shocking's final career start. Shocking stands at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand, producing quality G1 thoroughbreds such as, Fanatic, El Vencador, Defibrillator and I'm Thunderstruck, and Group Winners Self Obsession, Surprise Baby, Elephant and Hezashocka.

RACE RECORD - 27: 7–6–2

EARNINGS - $4,981,275

Melbourne Cup (2009)

Lexus Stakes (2009)

Makybe Diva Stakes (2010)

Australian Cup (2011)