CAUL JULY 31 - SHOOT OUT FIRES WARNING SHOT FOR SPRING

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, August 1, 2010

Caulfield, July 31, 2010.
Track – Dead 5. Rail - out 4.0m.
Bletchingly Stakes (Group 3 - WFA) - 1200m.
Time: 1-11.73. (Carrying 58.0kg).
1 Shoot Out; 2 Stanzout; 3 Velocitea.

Gold Coast trainer John Wallace brought AJC Derby winner Shoot Out to Caulfield for the first time in Saturday’s Group Three Bletchingly Stakes over 1200m. Owners Graeme and Lindy Huddy made the venture from Mount Isa. They all left Caulfield with a ‘spring’ in their step, after Shoot Out as able to hold out all comers in the feature sprint.

First up since his victory in the AJC Derby back in April, Shoot Out confirmed to all that he will be a force to be reckon with in whatever he steps out in this spring.

From barrier one, Shoot Out and jockey Stathi Katsidis jumped away on terms with the field and were happy to hold the fence through the first furlong as the field looked for a pacemaker to take up the running.

Shoot Out held the rail position while Elumino was on his immediate outside and three deep early was Keano for jockey Nick Hall. Three year old Tollesprit was content to track Shoot Out on the fence and on his outside was the favourite and Goodwood Handicap winner Velocitea for jockey Craig Newitt. The Colin Davies trained grey gelding Stanzout, settled on the back of the speed, content to sit three deep tracking up behind Keano, for jockey Craig Williams.

As the field settled down and raced inside the 800 metre mark, Elumino for Victoria’s newly crowned premiership jockey Luke Nolen held the running sitting one off the fence by a half-length to Shoot Out.

The pace was very moderate and only six lengths covered the field of sprinters as they raced down the side of the track. Favourite Velocitea settled in a lovely position for jockey Newitt in the one out one back position and looked to be travelling sweetly on her home track.

The pace went on as the field commenced to negotiate the home turn and Elumino attempted to surge away from Shoot Out who was still holding the fence for jockey Katsidis. The favourite Velocitea was urged along by Craig Newitt to keep in touch, while Craig Williams brought Stanzout to the outside of Keano to come with his run.

For the early part of the straight there was a line of five horses going stride for stride. Velocitea was able to poke through the pack inside of Elumino who was starting to tire.

The ghostly grey Stanzout had raced up and struck the front by a small margin at the 200 metre mark, with Stathi Katsidis asking the Queensland visitor Shoot Out for his supreme effort on the fence. Keano’s early wide run was starting to tell as he was feeling the pinch inside the furlong.

Shoot Out under strong whip riding from Stathi Katsidis clawed back the deficit and hit the front from Stanzout out wide on the track and Velocitea inbetween the two.

Shoot Out’s superior staying potential saw the three year old gelding by Irish shuttle stallion High Chaparral draw away over the final 50 metres to win by a half-length from Stanzout and a further three quarters of a length back to favourite Velocitea who weakened noticeably over the final 50 metres. Rising ten year old Royal Ida continued his consistent form to run home well for fourth for Caulfield trainer Luke Oliver.

No one could have ever imagined that Shoot Out would be in such a prominent position first up over an unsuitable distance. The durability of the horse was to the fore as he relaxed beautifully for Stathi Katsidis, and when asked gave an almighty kick to fight back to regain the lead and win running away.

It appears Shoot Out has come back as good, if not better than ever, and looks to be a major player in any events that John Wallace sets him for.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Wallace: “I was surprised when he was up there like that, but I did tell Stathi when he went out, ‘you ride your own race just wherever he lands, it is up to you mate' ... good horse.

“He’s nowhere near right, he’ll just improve and improve…….he might be really, really good this horse.

“He’s done things that I’ve never seen horses do. He’s just a superstar horse. I love him so much.

“We’ll just take it as it comes…..I’m not going to kill him. I want him there for a while. They’re hard to get.

“We’ll run him again here in a fortnight………he might like Melbourne!

“He had five weeks off and then I just brought him along quiet. I’ve never even galloped him hard. He’s done a lot of evens and steady work and he swims a lot…..he’s enjoying life.”

Owner Linda Huddy: “I can’t believe it. I just thought they’d be too slick for him today and the first time this way round and against older sprinters. He’s a freak and so is Johnny!

“It’s just luck, I’m not going to say I studied the catalogue and said here’s the one……we liked him and we’re just so lucky.”

Jockey Stathi Katsidis: “Potentially I think he’ll be the best horse I’ll probably ever associate with.

"I’ve still probably got 25 years left in my career but I think this horse comes along once in a lifetime and I’m just very lucky to be on board him.

“I could have led if I wanted to. I thought I better take hold of him a little bit, like, you know, he’s got to go twice round this track if he gets to the Caulfield Cup.

"I hope he doesn’t think to start pulling for the first lap in that. it’s a long way to go but John’s trained him absolutely sensationally. He had him really, really fresh for this race here today, that’s why he raced like he did and he did the same last time first up and he was able to get him to run the 2400m of the Derby, so John’s got him spot on for whatever he is doing.

“He’s up there in an unusual position for him. I’ve ridden him before in trials without cover and he hasn’t finished off, but today he probably looked beaten ten times.

"I just let him keep balanced and then I asked him for a supreme effort at the hundred and you see he went from probably getting beat to winning and winning convincingly. He’s just got an awesome motor and he’s just got a lot of character.

“Only very bad luck will beat him or injuries or anything like that, touch wood all is going well ... everything’s going spot on with the horse. He’s got the best people looking after him and Dan Wheeler rides him in all his work and does a sensational job with him. John trains him ... it’s a great combination.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Shoot Out): 4.80 out to 6.50.
Favourite (Velocitea): 2.50 out to 2.60. Finished third.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
S Arnold (Tollesprit) explained that his mount was held up in the early part of the straight but once clear inside the 200m the gelding failed to run on.

L Nolen (Elumino) reported at scale the he was obliged to race closer than intended and as a result the mare did not finish the race off. A post-race veterinary examination of Elumino revealed no abnormalities.

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