Wallace aiming high with Shoot Out

BRISBANE Feb 7 2010

Gold Coast three-year-old Shoot Out has been sent to Sydney with trainer John Wallace convinced he is the horse to end his 28-year Group One drought.

Wallace's only victory at elite level was with Mother Of Pearl in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm in 1982.

Shoot Out is being aimed at the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April and will follow the traditional path via the Royal Sovereign Stakes, the Hobartville, Randwick and Rosehill Guineas.

The Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday will be Shoot Out's first appearance since his last start fifth to Graceful Anna in the Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) on his home track on January 9.

Wallace will get two opportunities for an overdue Group One before the Australian Derby when the son of High Chaparral tackles the Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 13 and the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) a fortnight later.

Shoot Out was given a short break following the Magic Millions Trophy but remained in Wallace's stables.

The winner of last season's Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm, Shoot Out had his first serious test ahead of his Sydney trip when runner-up in a 1000-metre barrier trial on the Gold Coast last Tuesday.

Shoot Out has worn blinkers at his past two starts but Wallace experimented with winkers in the trial.

"I've had blinkers on him for his past two starts trying to teach him to settle," Wallace said.

"He's been going too hard with the blinkers on so I put winkers on him in the trial and he went well.

"He wasn't asked to do much and he could easily have won the trial."

Wallace was disappointed Shoot Out ran below expectations in the Magic Millions Trophy but not with his performance when he lost his position and was caught wide in the early stages.

Stathi Katsidis, who rode Shoot Out in the Magic Millions Trophy, will continue his association with the gelding during the autumn.

Katsidis had a big month in January winning the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on Military Rose and the Karaka Millions at Ellerslie on Sister Havana.

He is hopeful Shoot Out give him his second Group One winner outside his home state of Queensland.

His only previous interstate Group One was aboard Gold Edition in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in 2007, the same year he won the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm aboard Nova Star.

His other Group One victories were aboard Show A Heart in the T J Smith at Eagle Farm in 2000 and Allow in the 2006 Queensland Oaks.

By Glenn Davis - AAP

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