Winner: Shoot Out (High Chaparral-Pentamerous)
Race: AJC Randwick Guineas G1 (1600m)
Sold for: $15,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Oaklands Stud
Buyer: Linda Huddy
Earnings: $549,700
Owner(s): GL & Mrs LF Huddy
Trainer: John Wallace (Gold Coast)
Star Queensland three-year-old Shoot Out produced the win of the day around Australia on Saturday when he overcame serious interference to score a remarkable win in the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m).
In winning his first race at Group One level, Shoot Out was able to enhance his outstanding record to four wins and two second placings from just nine starts.
He’s earned his owners Graham and Linda Huddy an ever increasing $549,700 – quite staggering considering he cost the couple just $15,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Shoot Out’s supporters had plenty of concerns over the concluding stages when their charge was held up between runners and then almost clipped heels when badly crowded by rivals runners.
But once he saw daylight late in the race the result was never in doubt with the son of High Chaparral sprinting magnificently to reel in the leader Viking Legend and racing away to win by a widening three quarter length margin.
Trainer John Wallace has always held a massive opinion of Shoot Out and today by winning his first Group One his assessment was confirmed good and proper.
“C’mon the Rosehill Guineas now I reckon,” Wallace beamed from the winner’s stall. “He’s a good horse mate.”
“I love this,” he added.
He said the performance was first class considering things didn’t go to plan during certain stages of the race.
“He had to push his way out – but he finished quick hey!”
Wallace said Shoot Out would head to the Group One Rosehill Guineas before he decides whether he would step up in ground for the AJC Derby or come back for the Doncaster Mile.
“We’ll work it out then,” Wallace noted. “There’s no hurry is there.”
Winning rider Stathi Katsidis said he was thrilled with the way the outstanding three-year-old sprinted over the final hundred metres.
“He nearly fell near the 250 (metre mark). On the inside the West Australian horse was trying to come out and the outside horse was trying to hold me in.”
“But I was already established in a nice run there and he probably couldn’t win from there.”
“But it goes to show how good he is. He’s come from nearly an unwinnable situation.”
Katsidis, who earlier in the year won the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic aboard Military Rose, seemed to lose some confidence as the week progressed.
“I wasn’t as confident as I was during the week. When the rain didn’t come I was a bit worried.”
“It just goes to show he’s not only good on the wet – he’s just as good on the dry.”
For winning owner Linda Huddy – the Randwick Guineas success was what dreams are made of.
“I told my husband that I’d wake up in a minute,” Huddy beamed. “I just can’t believe it.”
Huddy said right from the time the horse entered training that the reports from Wallace were extremely positive.
“He’s always thought he was good.”
And Huddy is looking forward to not only the immediate future, but also the long term future with their bargain buy star galloper.
“Yeah hopefully (he’s got a big future),” she continued. “He’s only three, we’ll look after him.”
A half sister to Shoot Out by Adelaide Magic Millions Classic winner Ferocity made $160,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in January.
She was the latest yearling produced by the Pentire mare Pentamerous – a mare who’s two runners are both group winners.
Apart from Shoot Out, Pentamerous is the dam of the WA Oaks winner Cassandara Shadow.
