QUEENSLAND rider Stathi Katsidis was looking longingly at this year's Caulfield and Melbourne cups after his victory on Shoot Out in the $1.3 million Australian Derby at Randwick yesterday, reports the Sunday Age.It says: ''That was a fantastic performance. He pulled and never really settled but he was coming away at the end of 2400 metres, so two miles [3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup] could be right up his alley,'' Katsidis said. ''This horse has exceptional acceleration and durability, so th
QUEENSLAND rider Stathi Katsidis was looking longingly at this year's Caulfield and Melbourne cups after his victory on Shoot Out in the $1.3 million Australian Derby at Randwick yesterday, reports the Sunday Age.
It says: ''That was a fantastic performance. He pulled and never really settled but he was coming away at the end of 2400 metres, so two miles [3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup] could be right up his alley,'' Katsidis said. ''This horse has exceptional acceleration and durability, so the big cups in the spring are just what he's going to need when he turns four.''
Gold Coast trainer John Wallace has his sights firmly on the spring. ''He shapes like a really good stayer who has a significant kick at the end of his races, so the spring is looking bright,'' he said. Wallace, who has been training for 46 years, said Katsidis badgered him to make a gear change before the Derby. ''Stathi has been at me and at me to take the pacifiers off, and so I gave in and that would have helped, no doubt,'' he said.
Shoot Out was bought by the Huddy family of Boulia, near Mount Isa, for just $15,000. Although he is by English Derby winner High Chaparral, his racing style suggested that he might be suspect at the Derby distance. He won the Randwick Guineas (1600 metres) last month with his trademark electrifying burst but only struggled into fourth place as favourite in the Rosehill equivalent (2000 metres) a fortnight ago.