Trainer John Wallace still has Derby plans for highly rated Shoot Out but it won't be in Melbourne this spring.Wallace declared Shoot Out the best horse he had trained after the gelding scored a freakish win in the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes (1400) at Eagle Farm in May.The victory earned the son of High Chaparral favouritism for the following week's Group One T J Smith at Eagle Farm but the youngster ran below par finishing seventh to Linky Dink in the 1600-metre feature.Wallace was initial

Trainer John Wallace still has Derby plans for highly rated Shoot Out but it won't be in Melbourne this spring.

Wallace declared Shoot Out the best horse he had trained after the gelding scored a freakish win in the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes (1400) at Eagle Farm in May.

The victory earned the son of High Chaparral favouritism for the following week's Group One T J Smith at Eagle Farm but the youngster ran below par finishing seventh to Linky Dink in the 1600-metre feature.

Wallace was initially downcast following the first defeat of the gelding's career and immediately scrapped a campaign aimed at the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

However, on reflection, Wallace said Shoot Out's performance when beaten five lengths in the T J Smith, wasn't as bad as he first believed.

"It was a heavy track and he was on the worst part of it," Wallace said.

"He was only beaten five lengths and I now think he may not have backed up a week after winning the Sires.

"He did a good job considering and the run was really a bottler.

"He's still a super horse."

Shoot Out is still in the spelling paddock with Wallace now eyeing the Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January as his immediate goal before an autumn campaign in Sydney.

"He comes back into work on August 1 and from all reports he's thrived during his spell," Wallace said.

"I'll give him a couple of barrier trials and a run or two before the Magic Millions Trophy.

"I still think he'll stay and I'll take him to Sydney in the autumn for the AJC Derby.

"When he goes to Sydney he'll run in the Hobartville and other races like that before the Derby."

Shoot Out cost owners Graham and Linda Huddy just $15,000 as a yearling and already his prizemoney has soared to $175,000 with two wins from three starts.

Wallace, 63, has been training for 45 years and rates Shoot Out superior to his previous best horse, Oompala.

Oompala finished third to imported stayer Jeune in the 1994 Melbourne Cup after winning five Cup races along the way.

Oompala started the run to the Melbourne Cup by winning a moderate Gatton Cup before later taking out the Tattersall's Cup at Eagle Farm and the Ipswich and Caloundra Cups.

The son of Kampala then won the Newcastle Cup and was an unlucky second to Glastonbury in the Group One Metropolitan at Randwick before failing in the Caulfield Cup.