Valuable Stakes Win For Shock Connections

Winner: Shock Value (Key Business-Graceton)
Race: WATC Birthday Stakes LR (1200m)
Sold for: $100,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Rangeview Stud
Buyer: Jim Taylor
Earnings: $336,500
Owner(s): RB & Mrs JM Gray
Trainer: Jim Taylor (Bullsbrook)

Quality Perth sprinter Shock Value notched a most deserved stakes win when he captured the listed Birthday Stakes (1200m) at Belmont on Saturday.

A son of Rangeview Stud’s Key Business, Shock Value sat behind the leaders for much of the race before regular rider Jason Brown made his move near the home turn.

He shot to the front in the straight and then withstood a late charge from rival runners Famous Roman and Colour Correct to win by a neck.

Shock Value, a winner of seven of 17 starts prior to today, had placed in all three of his previous black type runs including his last start second in the listed Newmarket at Belmont.

There were plenty of anxious moments for connections when the talented sprinter got tangled up in the barriers pre-race.

“I was a bit concerned,” trainer Jim Taylor said. “He was in there for a long time and he must have got his leg up there – but the vets made the right decision.”

“They let him start and I’m very glad they did.”

Taylor has another feature race on the agenda for Shock Value – who he bought for $100,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

“He’s probably a Colonel Reeves (Stakes) type of horse,” Taylor noted. “That is what we’ll set him for.”

For winning jockey Jason Brown the stakes success topped off a memorable day – he’s a red hot Collingwood fan.

“He’s so honest,” Brown said. “He puts himself there on the speed and he just tries his guts out in the straight.”

“You can’t ask for too much more than that,” he added.

Shock Value beat his stablemate Famous Roman in the run to the line – the latter a Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale graduate.

Taylor said Famous Roman would run in the listed Northerly Stakes in a fortnight before being set for the Railway and Kingston Town Group One double.

Shock Value, by Key Business, is a full brother to four winners – being a son of the 100% winner producer Graceton.

He is a full brother to Keyton Grace – a three time stakes winner and six times stakes placegetter and earner of $383,450.

Graceton, a daughter of Fimiston, won four races and earned black type with placings in a Group Three Sires’ Produce Stakes and listed Perth Stakes.

Her latest yearling, a full sister to Shock Value and Keyton Grace, is being prepared by Robbie and Jodie Gray of Rangeview Stud for February’s 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

“She is a really lovely filly,” Magic Millions Perth Manager Murray Tillett said. “A serious filly – she will be one of the most admired fillies of the sale.”

“Rangeview have an outstanding draft across the board heading to the sale and I’m sure prospective buyers will be very impressed,” he added.