Liston Stakes Shoot Out
August 15th 2010 06:52
With sixteen days of Winter still remaining Shoot Out took his second scalp of Melbourne feature races when he won the Liston Stakes (Group 2 - 1400 metres) at Caulfield on Saturday. This following two weeks after his first-up win in the Bletchingly Stakes over 1200 metres.
(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography
In claiming this early Spring program double of the Bletchingly and Liston Stakes, Shoot Out became only the third horse to complete this feat - the other two being the sprinters Super Elegant (2003) and Apache Cat (2007).
A long campaign still lies ahead for Shoot Out, with targets of the WS Cox Plate (a primary target) and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. There are critics of trainer John Wallace and this very old-fashioned long campaign that Shoot Out now embarks upon - but nothing to this point suggests that he is in error with his plan.
Shoot Out defeated a very high calibre Liston field, and this after racing six horses deep without cover, then storming home to grab (and bump as he ran alongside) Predatory Pricer to gain a narrow but convincing victory.
So confident is trainer John Wallace in the ability of the horse - and his training program - that he declared straight after the race that Shoot Out would (simply) win the Cox Plate. Wallace believes that Shoot Out is nowhere near peak fitness and that these early WFA scalps are the equivalent of creating a fitness foundation with his horse improving with each race start. And of course this method of developing peak fitness through racing comes with the bonus of collecting prizemoney - something that a track gallop does not provide.
The next target for Shoot Out will be in another two weeks, again at Caulfield over the 1400 metre trip in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes, and this time with Champion Mare Typhoon Tracy set to be among his rivals. Also among his rivals is likely to be So You Think, last year’s Cox Plate winner, who was scratched last Saturday from the Liston Stakes because of the wet track conditions.
It won’t be easy for Shoot Out to continue to cut a swathe through Melbourne WFA races as the depth of opposition increases, as does the race fitness of all horses as the Spring develops. But Shoot Out has certainly set the benchmark for his rivals to match, or better, if they are capable.
Jockey of Shoot Out, Stathi Katsidis, was suspended until August 24th for causing interference to Shamoline Warrior at the 600 metre point. Stathi will return to the saddle just in time to partner Shoot Out in the Memsie.
Caulfield 14th of August 2010
track: slow
JJ Liston Stakes
Group 2 1400 metres
14 starters
WFA
Prizemoney of $200,000
1st Shoot Out Stathi Katsidis
2nd Predatory Pricer Craig Newitt
3rd Heart Of Dreams Damien Oliver
4th Vigor James Winks
120 metres from home and Shoot Out races past Heart Of Dreams and set sight on catching Predatory Pricer
(photos: Neil Murray) click images for enlargements
Neil Murray Photography
In claiming this early Spring program double of the Bletchingly and Liston Stakes, Shoot Out became only the third horse to complete this feat - the other two being the sprinters Super Elegant (2003) and Apache Cat (2007).
A long campaign still lies ahead for Shoot Out, with targets of the WS Cox Plate (a primary target) and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. There are critics of trainer John Wallace and this very old-fashioned long campaign that Shoot Out now embarks upon - but nothing to this point suggests that he is in error with his plan.
Shoot Out parading before the Memsie Stakes
Shoot Out defeated a very high calibre Liston field, and this after racing six horses deep without cover, then storming home to grab (and bump as he ran alongside) Predatory Pricer to gain a narrow but convincing victory.
So confident is trainer John Wallace in the ability of the horse - and his training program - that he declared straight after the race that Shoot Out would (simply) win the Cox Plate. Wallace believes that Shoot Out is nowhere near peak fitness and that these early WFA scalps are the equivalent of creating a fitness foundation with his horse improving with each race start. And of course this method of developing peak fitness through racing comes with the bonus of collecting prizemoney - something that a track gallop does not provide.
Shoot Out closing 150 metres from home
The next target for Shoot Out will be in another two weeks, again at Caulfield over the 1400 metre trip in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes, and this time with Champion Mare Typhoon Tracy set to be among his rivals. Also among his rivals is likely to be So You Think, last year’s Cox Plate winner, who was scratched last Saturday from the Liston Stakes because of the wet track conditions.
It won’t be easy for Shoot Out to continue to cut a swathe through Melbourne WFA races as the depth of opposition increases, as does the race fitness of all horses as the Spring develops. But Shoot Out has certainly set the benchmark for his rivals to match, or better, if they are capable.
Jockey of Shoot Out, Stathi Katsidis, was suspended until August 24th for causing interference to Shamoline Warrior at the 600 metre point. Stathi will return to the saddle just in time to partner Shoot Out in the Memsie.
Caulfield 14th of August 2010
track: slow
JJ Liston Stakes
Group 2 1400 metres
14 starters
WFA
Prizemoney of $200,000
1st Shoot Out Stathi Katsidis
2nd Predatory Pricer Craig Newitt
3rd Heart Of Dreams Damien Oliver
4th Vigor James Winks
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