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If you want to own a Melbourne Cup winner one day you better take a look at these foals.
He did it in emphatic style on the track himself and he may well be the answer to future Southern Hemisphere-bred success in Australia's great staying prize.
Shocking repelled the European invasion in 2009 to win the Melbourne Cup and now has the potential to provide the answers for Australasian breeders, owners and trainers.
The legendary Bart Cummings and champion trainer Gai Waterhouse have been among those bemoaning the visitors impact on the Melbourne Cup.
Danny O'Brien has also added his voice while high-profile owner Lloyd Williams has offered a different view.
"I think we're getting carried away with these horses from Europe, saying that they're totally better than ours," Williams said on Melbourne's RSN radio.
In support of his view, Williams pointed to the 1997 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Might And Power and his New Zealand-based sire Zabeel as an example of what the local breed is capable of.
Rich Hill Stud resident Shocking is potentially another prime example with the pedigree and performance to lead an Australasian renaissance.
The son of Street Cry, who defeated the Godolphin representative Crime Scene in his cup triumph, now has his first foals on the ground.
The champion racehorse covered an exceptional book of mares in his first season at stud and ended up with over 130 testing in foal.
"His first foals have created a real impression with the New Zealand breeders," studmaster John Thompson said.

Colt Shocking x Conducive

Colt Shocking x Lionstar

Colt Shocking x Mostly

Filly Shocking x Ebony and Ivory

Filly Shocking x Fairfield Flame
"So far they are all quality bay or browns with good deep girths and excellent conformation. Shocking is a pure breeding bay/brown stallion like his illustrious grand-sire Danehill," Thompson said.
"If his progeny exhibit the same turn of foot he could well be the ideal stallion to repel the European invasion."
Shocking offers premier 3200 metre form and displayed the acceleration that won him the Gr 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and the Gr 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m,).
Out of a Danehill mare, he stands at Rich Hill a fee of $NZ12,000 + GST alongside Pentire ($NZ30,000 + GST), Any Suggestion ($NZ7500 + GST) and Jimmy Choux ($NZ10,000 + GST).
Rich Hill Stud Release
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