John Wallace’s multiple Group performer Shoot Out has been ruled out of racing for the remainder of the year, the talented gelding suffering an ongoing back injury that will see them sidelined until the autumn next year.

A winner of seven of their 24 career starts to date, rising five-year-old Shoot Out has amassed over $1.9 million in prize money, a figure they won’t be adding to in the upcoming Sydney and Melbourne Spring Racing Carnivals.

Having taken out the 2010 Randwick Guineas – AJC Australian Derby, Shoot Out was one of last year’s most exciting three-year-olds, the Gold Coast-based galloper earning a shot at more Group glory during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Shoot Out had eight starts in Victoria from July to November last year, winning back-to-back Group races in the Bletchingly Stakes and JJ Liston Stakes before finishing third at their next three starts.

After being beaten by just a quarter of a length in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) by winner Zipping, Shoot Out lined up in Australia’s weight-for-age showpiece, the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) where they ran a game fourth to dual champion So You Think.

Backing up from their brave Cox Plate run, Shoot Out then finished fourth again to So You Think in the Group 1 MacKinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day before their 13^th place finish to Americain in the $6 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Following last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, Shoot Out had five additional runs in Sydney and Brisbane during the autumn – winter season, his best result being a last-start second to Michael Moroney’s star import Glass Harmonium in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) on June 4.

Despite an honest winter carnival campaign and having been a dominant force last spring carnival, Shoot Out will not have the chance to return to form or the turf until next year.

It was a tough decision by trainer Wallace to bypass the spring with Shoot Out, but he believes a longer break in the paddock can put a permanent end to the back problems suffered by the dual Group 1 winner and will be in their long-term best interests.

“He’s always had a sore lower back and we’ve been able to manage him but it just caught up with him in the winter,” Wallace said.

“He’s spelling now and the vet’s recommendation was to have six months off.

“So he’ll have a good rest and hopefully that will fix the problem.

“He won’t race again this year and will come back in the autumn.”

In the pre-nomination markets for the major Melbourne Spring features, Shoot Out was rated a $51 chance for the 2011 Caulfield Cup, $41 in the 2011 Cox Plate odds and $81 to become the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner at Flemington on Tuesday November 1.