Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is not too concerned that topweight Shoot Out will have to carry 58kg to add another Randwick victory to his record in the Group 1 $2m BMW Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Saturday.
Shoot Out, above, winning the George Main Stakes over the Randwick 1600m. Photo by Steve Hart.
Randwick specialist Shoot Out drew barrier ten in the twenty horse field and Hugh Bowman will be able to position him where ever he likes in a bid to go one step better than last year after finishing second to Sydney’s glamour mare More Joyous.
Shoot Out has an outstanding Randwick record winning four times and a second from eight attempts as well as two wins over the Doncaster distance twice at Group 1 level.
The High Chaparral six year old took out the Group 1 three year old Randwick double in 2010 winning the 1600m Royal Randwick Guineas followed by a win in the 2400m Australian Derby.
Shoot Out’s other Randwick Group 1 victory was the 2012 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) in the Spring and Waller says that the top weight for age performer has the form on the board to be a huge threat on Saturday.
“That Randwick form plus his mile form is close to the best in the race,” Waller said.
“He’s got the top weight to carry but like with Pierro, they’re good horses and hopefully they can overcome those weight barriers. It certainly makes it a very even race.”
Waller will also saddle up veteran campaigner Danleigh, the well performed Red Tracer and former New Zealand three year old Sacred Falls.
Nine year old Danleigh, with Jim Cassidy to ride, drew worse than midfield at barrier fifteen but showed he is still competitive at Group 1 level with a third to stable mate Shoot Out two starts back in the $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 9.
“He’s is going in good form,” Waller said.
“He drops in weight and that’s his big advantage in this field. He is a nine year old and we can’t lose sight of that.”
“Whatever wins the race, if it is Pierro breaking the three year old record, whether it be Shoot Out winning with the top weight or whether it be a nine year old winning the race or something down in the weights which is very very likely, that’s what makes it such a great race.”
Waller is not too perturbed with his smart mare Red Tracer drawing the outside gate and also mentioned that the mares are going into the race with very strong form down the bottom of the weights.
Wet track specialist Red Tracer has finished second at her last two runs behind Appearance, both at Group 1 level at Rosehill in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 23 and the $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) on April 6
“Horses have won from all over the place. Outside draws haven’t been too much of a disadvantage over the Randwick mile. She’s in career best form,” Waller said.
“I think the mares are going to give the opposite sex a mighty shake with the lead up form looks to be strong and they’re in the race with very good weights.”
Waller isn’t dismissing the chances of three year old Sacred Falls who was runner-up to It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 $500,000 M. J. Bale Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on April 20 as well as being a Group 1 winner over 1600m in New Zealand.
Shoot Out is the best of the Waller runners in the Doncaster Mile market at $14 behind the three year olds $2.15 favourite Pierro and Norzita at $8.50.
Red Tracer is at $21 with former kiwi Sacred Falls at the $34 mark with the old stager Danleigh at the juicy odds of $51.
