Winner: Shoot Out (High Chaparral-Pentamerous)
Race: AJC Royal Sovereign Stakes G2 (1200m)
Sold for: $15,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Oaklands Stud, Qld
Buyer: Linda Huddy
Earnings: $297,300
Owner(s): GL & Mrs LF Huddy
Trainer: John Wallace (Gold Coast)
Classy Queensland three-year-old Shoot Out made the best possible start to his Sydney campaign when he gave his rivals a start and beating in the Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The John Wallace prepared High Chaparral gelding was freshened up after finishing fifth behind Graceful Anna at the recent Magic Millions 3YO Trophy on the Gold Coast.
Wallace has always held a big opinion of the lightly raced galloper – who at his second career outing won the Group Two QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
In a thrilling finish, Shoot Out ($8.50) got up in the very last stride to beat More Than Great ($5) in an all Magic Millions finish.
Another short neck back in third place was the early leader Viking Legend ($21).
“He’s a good horse,” Wallace said of Shoot Out. “He’s always shown me plenty.”
“A lot of blokes doubted me. But I knew he was real good.”
Wallace said he went into the Royal Sovereign Stakes with a good deal of confidence – knowing he had a happy and fit conveyance.
“He settled in great,” Wallace said. “Bobby Pearce and his foreman Craig look after me real well there and I reckon they’ll get a thrill as well.”
What an incredible money spinner Shoot Out is turning into for the Huddy family who parted with just $15,000 for him from the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. At last count he’d won over $297,000.
Winning rider Kerrin McEvoy was impressed with how the star Queensland galloper flew home in the straight to reel in More Than Great and Viking Legend.
“He flew home well didn’t he,” McEvoy beamed. “John said he would run well – just to cover him up.”
“He was a little bit strong in behind them – a little bit keen.”
“He floundered a bit around the bend, but once he balanced up he came.”
And on the line McEvoy thought he may have been beaten in the photo finish.
“I actually thought I got rolled. I thought we just missed. But he got there by the bob of a head.”
David Payne, trainer of the runner-up More Than Ready, was pleased with the effort of his Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase.
“I think I’ll put a set of blinkers on him,” Payne said. “Just to make him think.”
“He tries his best,” he added. “He’s not a big bloke.”
Shoot Out, by Monaco Consul and So You Think’s sire High Chaparral, is one of two winners – and two group winners from the top producing Pentire mare Pentameous.
The other is Western Australian Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow – a winner of four races and over $337,000.
Pentamerous, a minor race winner over a mile, is a half sister to the Craiglee Stakes winner and Adelaide Cup runner-up Native Jazz.
