John Wallace is backing Shoot Out to win the Doomben Cup
Shoot Out has been one of the most costly horses to punters all year but they seem to be sticking with him, even though three runners in today’s field beat him last start in the Hollindale Stakes.
Many would agree he probably had excuses in that run but that’s been the case all year and another failure here would surely see punters lose all patience.
Today he runs into a huge challenge taking on My Kingdom Of Fife, unbeaten on Aussie soil and already with a Group 1 victory to his name, he’s also the horse who won the Hollindale Stakes.
Second in that race was Glass Harmonium, another import and one with a very real chance of improving significantly after that first up run in the Hollindale.
Throw into the mix the warhorse Scenic Shot who also beat him to the line on the Gold Coast and you soon see that if he is going to win, he’d better at the top of his game.
The optimism of Wallace isn’t in question though and once again he’s talking up his Melbourne Cup runner as a major danger.
“This is the first time this prep he’s been spot-on,” Wallace said.
“He only had a 1200m, 1400m and then went into the 1800m. I was really happy with his Hollindale run and I think Corey (Brown) is right, he probably peaked on his run the last 50 yards. This is the first time he’s back to the level of last spring.”
While he’s a local horse Shoot Out has only run at Doomben once for a second placing to Graceful Anna over 1350m.
Wallace does have the support of handicappers though who consider him the best horse in the race so he’ll be expecting nothing less than a win.
“I picked this race out some time ago and I’m pretty happy. His work this week has been exceptional,” Wallace said.
“He didn’t finish far away the other day and doesn’t have to improve much.
“He is the best horse in the race. He looks really well and I’m very hopeful.”
One thing for sure is that he’ll have the support of the home crowd, Queensland horses have only claimed one Group 1 race in their home carnival in the past two years.
“It would be great to win one for the locals,” he said.
While a lot rides on this race for Shoot Out plenty is on the line for Wallace as well.
Plenty of people have been critical of the races he’s entered in 2011 with the Melbourne Cup runner starting off in sprint races against the likes of Black Caviar.
He’s likely to compete at pretty much every distance back up to the 3200m and many have questioned the reasoning behind it.
After this race Shoot Out will have one more race in Brisbane at Eagle Farm in two weeks before being spelled ahead of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
