COX PLATE BECKONS SENSATIONAL SHOOT OUT
Winner: Shoot Out (High Chaparral-Pentamerous by Pentire)
Race: MRC JJ Liston Stakes G2 (1400m)
Sold for: $15,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Oaklands Stud
Buyer: Linda Huddy
Earnings: $1,560,950
Owner(s): GL & Mrs LF Huddy
Trainer: John Wallace (Gold Coast)
Top Gold Coast trainer John Wallace declared Shoot Out would win Australasia’s weight-for-age championship following his outstanding victory in today’s Group Two $201,000 JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Despite covering extra ground throughout, Shoot Out was able to storm home on the outside of runners and win impressively.
Moments after the race Wallace sent a message to his likely Cox Plate rivals suggesting his star would still make great improvement this preparation.
Bookmakers reacted to the outstanding win with Betstar cutting his Cox Plate quote from $9 to $6. He’s now a clear favourite for the 2040 metre Moonee Valley feature.
“He’s a good horse mate and he really knows how to win,” John Wallace beamed.
“I was thinking, how wide can this bloke get, but he knew what he was doing. He’s a real racehorse.”
“He loves to win and I’m just so proud of him.”
“This horse will get better,” Wallace said without hesitation. “I’m telling you, lookout!”
“He’s nowhere near ready. I’ve just been playing about with him.”
“He’ll win the Cox Plate,” Wallace stated.
When asked whether he would continue to a Melbourne Cup if he won the Cox Plate he answer “yep.”
And would he win – “we’ll see. I won’t run him unless I think he’s ready for it. I can promise you that.”
Prior to any crack at the Cox Plate, Shoot Out will have other races – including the Memsie Stakes (1400m) in a fortnight – in that race he will clash with the Australian Horse of the Year favourite.
“He might find it a bit hard next start to beat Typhoon Tracy over 1400 (metres). But after that, look out when he goes a bit further.”
“(Peter) Moody (trainer of Typhoon Tracy) is my mate so I want to have a go at him.”
Shoot Out ($2.50-$3 fav) had a head margin on the line over Predatory Pricer ($6-$7), while the runner up’s stable mate Heart of Dream ($6-$5.50-$6) was another two and a quarter lengths back in third place.
A son of star shuttle sire High Chaparral, Shoot Out is raced by Graham and Linda Huddy – Linda paying just $15,000 for him at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“You always hear about those stories where anyone can do it,” Linda Huddy said after the presentation.
“And well this horse proves it. You normally hear about it happening to others – but this is what dreams are made of.”
A half brother to the West Australian Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow, Shoot Out is from the grand producing Pentire mare Pentamerous.
Just turned four, Shoot Out boasts an outstanding record of seven wins and two minor placings from just 13 starts. He’s earned over $1.56 million.
