Waller To Train Shoot Out

Multiple Group One winner Shoot Out has transferred stables and will now be trained by Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller.

Formerly trained by John Wallace, Shoot Out missed this year's Melbourne spring carnival after an unsuccessful autumn campaign in Sydney and Brisbane.

Shoot OutShoot OutWallace instead opted to allow Shoot Out, a horse with a history of niggling back problems, time to recover from his five start campaign which culminated in a placing in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2400m).

However the Waller stable issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon confirming that Shoot Out will join their stable with a view to getting the son of High Chaparral ready for the Sydney autumn carnival.

Waller said he was "privileged and honoured" to have the "arduous task"of buliding on the work Wallace has done with the horse.

"This horse has reached the greatest heights in racing," Waller said before adding, "I congratulate the job, both him and his staff, have done with this horse up until now.

"For any trainer it is difficult to lose such a horse and to my understanding there has certainly been no falling out between the owners (Graham and Linda Huddy) and trainer, with the owners speaking very highly of Mr Wallace.

"The owners have indicated that the horse may benefit from a change of environment after struggling to recapture his best form in the past twelve months.

Chris WallerChris Waller"With the upcoming Sydney Carnival approaching and the likelihood of him returning to racing sometime throughout this period, it seemed logical to make Sydney his new base."

Shoot Out won two Group 1's as a three-year-old, the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Australian Derby (2400m).

He returned as a four-year-old in fine form, winning the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Shoot Out has since been unable to win in 11 starts, with him placed only once at Group 1 level (a third in the 2010 Turnbull Stakes) from seven attempts at the elite level.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin & Sportpix