Premier trainer Chris Waller has put the blinkers back on his Doncaster Mile hopeful Shoot Out in a bid to sharpen him up coming back 1600m.
Waller brought Shoot Out back to Group 1 supremacy with a win in the $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 10 then the five year old ran a creditable third to Manighar as favourite in the Group 1 $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24.
Shoot Out will run with blinkers in the Doncaster Mile - photo (c) Steve Hart
“We just want to keep him sharp by putting the blinkers on,” Waller said.
“He’s coming back from a good run at 2000m and we’re just trying something with him.”
Shoot Out wore the blinkers for a couple of runs early in his career without a win, but Waller feels that this is the right time to try them again.
The five year old, who has four wins from ten starts on the slow and none from two on the heavy, is on the third line of betting with the Sincero at $8 who has had a steady trickle of money since the rain came.
The Gai Waterhouse trained More Joyous remains the favourite at $6 with Secret Admirer breathing down her neck at $6.50.
Waller will saddle up a possible four runners in the Doncaster with Danleigh ($41), Albert The Fat ($67) and top weight Rangirangdoo ($10) who is still on the doubtful list.
Waller is still in two minds whether to start Rangirangdoo on a wet track and will wait until the morning to see how the Randwick track is rated.
“Rangirangdoo is probably the best suited on the wet track but I’m seriously considering scratching him simply because of his legs on a heavy track,” Waller said.
“I think he is the best wet tracker but I don’t want to risk a horse that has had problems.”
“If it is as wet as last year I’ll seek permission to scratch him because I think it would be detrimental to the horse’s future.”
The seven year old is starting to put some good runs together with a narrow second to Manighar in the Group 1 $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24 and then was beaten less than a length when sixth to stable mate Metal Bender in the Group 1 $400,000 Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 7.
Waller is also giving Danleigh a good chance, saying the four time Group 1 winner is well weighted at 55kg.
“Last year he carried 56.5kg and since the weights have been released he has been placed in a Group 1, so he’s probably the sleeper,” Waller said.
