When Queenslander Shoot Out won the Sires' Produce Stakes in Brisbane last May, trainer John Wallace already had his eye on the AJC Australian Derby.Shoot Out's half-sister had only recently won the West Australian Oaks and Wallace was confident enough in what he'd seen to predict the gelding had the potential to be a top-line three-year-old.At Randwick on Saturday Shoot Out will start one of the favourites in the $1.3 million Classic at Randwick, and Wallace is convinced he is the right horse t

When Queenslander Shoot Out won the Sires' Produce Stakes in Brisbane last May, trainer John Wallace already had his eye on the AJC Australian Derby.

Shoot Out's half-sister had only recently won the West Australian Oaks and Wallace was confident enough in what he'd seen to predict the gelding had the potential to be a top-line three-year-old.

At Randwick on Saturday Shoot Out will start one of the favourites in the $1.3 million Classic at Randwick, and Wallace is convinced he is the right horse to deliver him the biggest win of his training career.

"When he won the Sires (at his second start), we were thinking about it (the Derby) then," Wallace said.

"We didn't want to go to Melbourne in the spring for their Derby because he wouldn't have had enough of a spell. That's why we decided to come here."

After a summer preparation in Queensland which included a fifth in the $1 Million Magic Millions Trophy (1400m) at the Gold Coast, Wallace turned his attention to Sydney's autumn carnival looking to end his 28-year Group One drought.

He trained Mother Of Pearl to win the 1982 Queensland Oaks.

Shoot Out won the Group Two Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at his Sydney debut and two starts later claimed the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m), producing a slashing finish after striking interference in the straight.

Connections then had a decision to make - tackle the Derby (2400m) as originally planned or go for the Doncaster Mile (1600m) for which they'd paid a late entry fee to give them the option.

After his fourth to Zabrasive in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) two weeks ago it was decided to press on to the Derby.

"To win would be the absolute achievement of a lifetime," Wallace said.

"We all dream of winning these races and I'm hoping I've got the horse to do it - and I think I have."

Wallace has taken the pacifiers off Shoot Out for the Derby to help him settle better after he pulled too hard at Rosehill last time out.

He said the gelding had been dropping the bit and relaxing in his work which was a good sign as he bids to win for the third time in as many starts at Randwick.

"The horse has done a treat," Wallace said.

"I did (always have a big opinion of him) and I think he's lived up to his promise. This would just be the icing on the cake."