NEWS
Shoot Out captures first Group 1 in Randwick Guineas
Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 3:25 PM
by Steve Bailey
Shoot Out took command with about a furlong to run and drove to a three-quarter-length victory in the $322,657 Turnpoint Royal Randwick Guineas (Aus-G1) on Saturday at Randwick.
Trained by John Wallace, the bay High Chaparral (Ire) gelding, a multiple Group 2 winner entering the 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race for three-year-olds, overcame traffic problems on the home turn to score his first career victory at the highest level.
Ridden with precision by jockey Stathi Katsidis, Shoot Out raced in midpack for much of the race and found himself boxed in toward the back of the field rounding the home turn.
As the field hit the straight, Shoot Out nearly stumbled but quickly regained his footing as Katsidis found an opening in the lane. Shoot Out drove powerfully to the line, besting stakes winner Viking Legend and covering the distance in 1:34.94.
“He had to push out, but finished quick, huh,” Wallace told the Australian Associated Press. “I was worried but I thought if he gets out, he wins. That’s what happened. He’s a good, good horse.”
Group 2-placed winner Captain Sonador finished another neck back in third.
Wallace, who picked up his first Group 1 victory in 28 years, said Shoot Out probably would be pointed toward the Rosehill Guineas (Aus-G1) at 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in two weeks.
The victory was the fourth from nine career starts for Shoot Out, who is out of the winning Pentire mare Pentamerous. He is a half brother to Group 3 winner Cassandra Shadow.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor for Thoroughbred Times
