The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup has been a long-term plan for the daughter of Shocking, himself a winner of the 2009 Melbourne Cup.
But Shockletz needs to win her way into Cup calculations which the Maher team hopes will come on Saturday in the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m).
The Lexus Archer Stakes provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
There will be another 'Cup qualifier' at Flemington, the Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 3 with the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), which offer the winner a ballot exemption, later that month.
Shockletz had a nice run of form 12 months ago where she won four races with Harry Coffey in the saddle.
The last of those was last October with the mare's only win since coming at Pakenham in December.
Coffey returns to the saddle on Saturday and Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, said blinkers were also being applied.
"We've put some headgear on her," Turnbull said.
"She travels well, but when they quicken, she's flat-footed, and then she picks up again.
"We are third-up, a mile-and-a-half, essentially, and a bit of headgear, it should play to her favour, plus she likes big tracks and this has been a 12-month plan for her.
"We were conscious of what she did two preps ago and then we freshened her up to be on fresher legs, so that if she does qualify, she has not been taxed come the bigger races."
